Ken Penrod’s LOU Fishing Reports for 2022
September 25, 2022
Our 41sth Year!
Ken is enshrined in to: The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide.
Angler Alerts, Fishing Advice & Conservation Concerns.
Week Ending September 18, 2022
Mailing Address @ 1860- Robin Court, Lusby, MD 20657
Ken’s Cell @ 240-447-2206 (best way) Kenpenrod@comcast.net
www.penrodsguides.com. Facebook. Twitter: @ken_penrod. Instagram. LinkedIn
Professional Guide Since 1982—USCG Licensed
We Wrote “The Books” on Regional Fishing.
Licensed, Drug Tested, Commercially Insured, Time Tested.
Expert Fishing Instructors for:
Tidal Potomac River <> Upper Potomac River <> Susquehanna River
Juniata River <> Upper Bay <> Eastern Shore Tidal Rivers
Visit our other Facebook Pages below:
Notes: Our fishing report will be posted to Ken’s Facebook Page, “Life Outdoors Unlimited” where Clients may see their photos.
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“Ken Penrod’s Life Outdoors Unlimited” (https://www.facebook.com/Ken-Penrods-Life-Outdoors-Unlimited-1436799496550830/)
Ken Penrod’s 20-Inch Smallmouth Club members at: https://www.facebook.com/Ken-Penrod-20-Smallmouth-Club-214057305623741/?notif_t=page_fan.
Sponsored by, Ardent & Riverfront Campground.
LOU Lo-Po Club at: https://www.facebook.com/LOU-Lo-Po-Potomac-River-Largemouth-Club-1107431399330003/
Sponsored by Lowrance & Ardent.
LOU Magazine at: https://www.facebook.com/LOU-Magazine-942855415798908/
Camp Sycamore at: https://www.facebook.com/Ken-Penrods-Camp-Sycamore-215146332155566/
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LOU POTOMAC RIVER LARGEMOUTH CLUB;
Sponsored by Lowrance Electronics & Ardent Outdoors
Current Club Leader: Dr. Dave, 21.75”
Ken Penrod 20-Inch Smallmouth Club
Sponsored by Ardent Outdoors and Riverfront Campground
Current Leader: John Ennis, 21.75”
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RIVER LEVELS
Susquehanna @ Harrisburg: 4 feet and steady, clear
Juniata @ Newport: 4 feet and steady. clear
Point of Rocks on Potomac: 1.8 rising to 2.4 by Wednesday, come color
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Last week was all about “Ian” and the acronym mean “I am nothing,” which would be a hard sell to southwest Florida and much of the east coast. We here in the middle Atlantic got a “taste” but a small one when compared to 170 MPH wind, 20 inches of rain and 12-15 feet of surge—but it was enough to put the brakes on many fishing trips. The low barometric pressure which usually accompanies rain is always a “fish-turn-on” but winds mean stay home dummy. Did you know that if a USCG licensed Captain took paying customers out during small craft warning and an accident ensued—he would lose his license and his Insurance could refuse to pay. State licensed guides are not nearly so scrutinized but the insurance could use “negligence” as a reason to refuse coverage.
We, in our region, had some nasty wind and moderate to frequent rain but our impact was a walk in the park compared to North Carolina to Miami.
The ”big” fishing news for the week was about two walleye tournament anglers (Jake Runyon and Chase Cominsky)attempted to weigh-in five fish full of lead weights at a Lake Erie tournament. Needless to say—both are “toast” in the fishing world and may do jail time also.
We had some tournament cheating on the Potomac several years ago when an individual kept previously-caught bass in a trap and would retrieve them on tournament day. He also was accused of “stocking” a small tidal trib with bass for professional friends in a B.A.S.S event. He too has disappeared.
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TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: * to ** (weather); clear with some stain from recent rain. <70 degrees.
I NEVER go to a tidal river without obtaining tide and wind facts. It’s easy. Use your google machine and ask for “Tidal Info for ____” and use a good weather app for wind and directions. Now, weather accuracy, in our regions, is sketchy so I will double check in the morning too. A good Lowrance unit also has tidal predictions on the mapping page. Use my website too, www.penrodsguides.com. A handy cell application is called “River Levels” and I use “Open Seas” and “FishWeather.”
There wasn’t enough rain to really muddy-up this river so choose your spots accordingly. I have a few dates left for October. I’m going deer hunting in November/December.
Ivan winds this week were brutal, from the North and Northeast and it’s pretty hard to find an area on the Potomac that isn’t affected. I do like Mattawoman for those winds however.
I canceled all scheduled trips last week.
UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: **; a welcome “bump” in the level but only 6 inches.
We really didn’t get enough from Ivan to flush this river so don’t get reckless. Wind over shallow water really makes route choice a gamble because your “read” is limited so I always have a low water route saved in my Lowrance mapping—but I’m still not blowing thru.
I believe the best-of-the-year is ahead as water temps chill and pleasure boats disappear. Algae will die off and the clear water will look black so keep those Costa glasses on. Much of the food source has been eaten so bites will be more aggressive.
Simple menu now: Case Magic Swims; Zipper Grubs; Campground tubes and shallow dive crankbaits.
SUSQUEHANNA & JUNIATA RIVERS: ** to **1/2; levels are steady; temps under 70.
No help from Ivan but both rivers are holding at about 4-feet which is good for now if you are experienced and/or cautious. Too cold to wade but still fine for floats—just have a stout push pole aboard.
These smallmouth are tough and they will eat spinnerbaits and topwater offerings for several more weeks. Tubes and jerk baits for sure.
Legendary Butch Ward loved this time of year and on through deer season. Usually, he was the only boat on the river and in the parking lot. Look to Simms for really good outer wear Mucks with toe warmers.
Captain Dave Kerrigan and I will return to Duncannon mid-March and guide thru May so don’t wait too long to reserve your dates. Last year’s clients get first refusal on days they had last year.
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LOU Guides for 2022
Captain Ken Penrod: (National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame) Cell: 240-447-2206; kenpenrod@comcast.com; Facebook; LinkedIn; Instagram, Twitter @ken_penrod.
Tidal Potomac; Upper Potomac; Susquehanna River; Juniata River; Maryland Eastern Shore Tidal Rivers; George Stevenson Reservoir and trout streams in Cameron County, PA-near Sinnamahoning..
Captain Dave Kerrigan, VP of Smallmouth Operations @ 301-252-5322;
Captain Brian Barnes @ 302-745-4668,
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Meet My/Our Partners.
The following are our sponsors and partners. Some are all encompassing within my group—and some are personal to the guide. All are valued.
RiverPro; Mercury; Lowrance Electronics; Ardent Outdoors; Big Mouth Lure Company; Yeti; Patagonia; Case Plastics; Kuiu; Simms Fishing; Costa; Power Pole; NRA; Zipper Worms; RAB Jig Heads; Campground Tubes; Riverfront Campground; AlumaRyder; (Dave Kerrigan); Guidefitters; NRA; Drake Waterfowl, Fishing Division; Maggie Penrod.
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Books by Ken and Guided Trip Gift Certificates available
Books
Ken Penrod’s Top Ten for Fishing PaMarVa ($25.00)
Pursuing River Smallmouth Bass ($25.00 or 10 for $150.00)
Fishing Lake Anna ($20,00)
Tidewater Bass Fishing ($20.00)
Call Ken at 240-447-2206 or kenpenrod@comcast.net
Guided Trips
Susquehanna River in PA mid March-May ($500)
Tidal Potomac River March through November ($500)
Upper Potomac River (500)
Upper Chesapeake Bay (500)
Eastern Shore tidal rivers: (500)
Trips are for one or two persons. Catch and release; lost lures and broken rods not included; only we can change the date once booked; $200 non nonrefundable deposit required; no drugs no alcohol. We reserve the right to move the trip to a different water if conditions warrant.