Despite the rain, new rules are in effect

Friday, May 16, 2008

My daughter lives up in Maine, and they had one of their snowiest seasons ever this past winter. Yet, she called earlier this week and told me she had to water her tomato plants for they looked ‘‘droopy,” my little one told her dad.

That was surprising, but I was even more astounded that they’d have them in the ground this early up there. We grow plenty of our own tomatoes, but I wish that kid would send a few nice lobsters our way. And, be sure to mind your own way out on our waters for a good while longer for there are plenty of floating hazards that came loose during the recent floods to ding up your boat. Be careful out there; it can be dangerous.

Keep in mind too that the rules have changed for keeping rockfish in the Chesapeake Bay. After a two-day closure, starting today, Friday, anglers may keep two rockfish per day between 18 and 28 inches or one between 18 and 28 inches and one more over 28 inches.

The Potomac River is now open to striper fishing up to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge with the same common rules as Maryland’s portion of the main stem Chesapeake Bay. The general area around the mouth of the Patuxent River is now also open to striper fishing, but not yet the waters upriver.

Southern Maryland lakes and ponds –– Unless there is excellent drainage nearby, most ponds and little lakes will remain discolored until things dry out a bit more. That means using scents along with loud and flashy lures.

Topwaters certainly will make a noticeable commotion, big bladed spinnerbaits, rattling-type lures and crankbaits with sound chambers are also all good picks. One friend told me he picked up about a dozen bass, mostly on small plastic worms, before the rains came, from one of our local ponds during an afternoon not long ago.

Ken Lamb, at the Tackle Box in Lexington Park, also is reporting fine crappie action at St. Mary’s Lake along with some very active bluegill. If it’s bass you seek, remember too that the keeping season doesn’t begin until next month from Maryland’s non-tidal waters. Take a quick picture if you’d like, but then immediately return those big guys to their freedom.

At Gilbert Run Park, manager John Snow tells me they had some serious flooding there last weekend. Before the high water, crappie action was ‘‘red hot,” said Snow and the redear sunfish were just becoming active. Things should be back to normal this weekend.

Mattawoman Creek –– Life Outdoors Unlimited guide Keith Barker (301-937-0010) has been having good success fishing the grass beds around Marsh Island and within the 6 mph zone using spinnerbaits and Mizmo tubes. His boss, Ken Penrod, has been working the grass closer to the mouth and reports ‘‘fair success.”

Upper Potomac River –– Before those torrential downpours, the LOU guides were doing well around Lander, taking smallmouths to 20 inches and some females around there that hadn’t yet spawned. For latest conditions, call 703-260-0305 before you go and just follow the prompts.

Tidal Potomac River –– Another huge FLW tournament will be here this weekend launching from Leesylvania State Park over on the other side. You can expect a lot of boats plus a big delivery of floating debris from the heavy flooding conditions last weekend. Penrod recommends the shallow grass between Pohick Bay and the Chopawamsic.

The Reel Bass Adventure pros (301-932-1509) had been having their best success using lightly weighted Texas-rigged worms dropping slowly through the grass mats. They also recommend you look for the tributaries to clear first and provide the best action.

Lower Potomac River –– George Quade at Quade’s Store in Bushwood tells me few people were fishing last weekend (zero surprise), but the good action started up again Tuesday of this week when fishermen started pulling a few croaker up from his docks out front.

‘‘Hopefully, all that rain didn’t have a negative effect,” said Quade.

Patuxent River —– The waters around the mouth are open now to striper fishing, and keeping, according to the Maryland rules. Lamb is reporting white perch, spot and even some catfish active upriver.

Loch Raven Reservoir –– Adam Montgomery at the Fishing Center told me the water was flowing over the dam there earlier this week. No matter. Bass, pickerel and lots of crappie were acting very hungry. Plastic worms worked best on the bass, while live bait gets the happy nod for the pickerel and crappie.

Deep Creek Lake –– The water temperatures out here dropped like you might like to see a bowling ball fall on your mother-in-law’s big toe last weekend with those cold, heavy rains.

According to Mark Collins at Bill’s Outdoor Center, water temps are now in the low to mid 50s. Just a week ago, they were mostly in the mid-60 degree range. Collins says the crappie like small tubes and plastic grubs, while the bass are starting to really hit topwaters, as in small Pop-R’s.

‘‘The pickerel will take anything you throw near their nose,” quipped Collins.

Lake Anna –– Many bass are in a post-spawn mode, and that usually means slow fishing. Anna guide Jim Hemby (540-967-3313) recommends tube baits, Senkos, Carolina rigged Zoom lizards and jerk baits worked well over shallow coves and 30 degree sloping banks.

Hemby suggests looking for the stripers early and late in the day along shallow flats, main lake points and around any shallow humps you can find near deep water. The crappie have spawned and are now moving back to the 6- to 15-foot depths.

Chesapeake Bay –– The rockfish rules have changed (see above).

Fred Donovan at the Rod ‘‘N” Reel Dock in Chesapeake Beach says they’re starting to see a few smaller fish now, ‘‘but, there are still plenty of good ones around in the 40-inch range.” Many of the best catching has gone on early in the days, but you can limit out anytime of day if you happen to run over a good school.

Ken Lamb tells of a good ‘‘big fish run” that happened last weekend about a mile north of Buoy 70. Pelicans were reported diving all over and many trophies in the 40-inch range were taken in quick order. That’s called being in the right place at the right time.

Christy Henderson at Buzz’s Marina says there were ‘‘good numbers” of trophy fish for the trollers all around her and some were seen breaking in the evenings between St. Jerome’s Creek and Point Lookout. Henderson also reports on some flounder coming from the creek mouth there, ranging from 17 to 25 inches. Croaker are also being caught off the fishing pier at Point Lookout.

Atlantic Ocean –– Sue Foster at Oyster Bay Tackle in Ocean City is hearing about some nice stripers in the surf around Assateague, the Indian River Inlet and by the Route 50 Bridge.

A few flounder are being seen now in the back bays and the tautog bite is still strong off the end of the Oceanic Pier. New rules for tautog went into effect on May 16: a two fish limit, 14-inch minimum size. Few boats around there have ventured off shore.