Weekend fishing report

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

The weekend fishing for ocean species, such as marlin and tuna, depends entirely on Ophelia. Chances are there'll be strong winds, rain and general misery for Atlantic and lower Chesapeake Bay boaters. Perhaps it's best they stay in safe harbors. Even if the storm moves a great deal farther east, there'll be remnant winds that would make fishing a real chore.

Affected to a lesser degree, but still not very inviting, might be the waters of the Chesapeake Bay around Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the general Hampton Roads area. However, with a little luck, upper bay parts in Maryland should be fishable.

Meanwhile, the upper portions of tidal rivers in Maryland and Virginia will present a variety of sport fishing. It begins with the tidal Potomac from Washington south to western Charles County, where largemouth bass catches can be very good. This time of year it's mostly the use of topwater lures early in the day and soft plastics as the sun drives the fish down that will deliver good outings.

While forecasts of heavy rains greet anglers in eastern North Carolina and Virginia, the fishermen in the mountains of the Middle Atlantic states could use a nice, prolonged, soft rain to help raise water levels in all the rivers where smallmouth bass, sunfish and walleyes thrive.

If you want, e-mail us at gmueller@washingtontimes.com

(Ratings key: .... =excellent fishing; ... =Good; .. =Fair; . =Poor.)

AREA 1: D.C. AND VICINITY

POTOMAC RIVER: 0-35 miles (...) — The Boathouse at Fletcher's Cove (Georgetown, off Canal Road; 202/244-0461) and vicinity shows continued low water conditions and mostly catfish and a few bass for rental boaters and shore walkers. Bass guides Andy Andrzejewski (301/932-1509) and Dale Knupp (301/934-9062) are using early-morning topwater lures and cast them around the edges of hydrilla and milfoil beds on the main stem and in the feeder creeks. Occasionally, good surface catches are seen. As the sun rises, the guides switch to a variety of soft plastics that include Berkley Power Worms, Strike King Zero worms, Senkos, and some finesse worms. Marsh banks in the feeder creeks can hold excellent numbers of bass as long as it's a type of bank that goes from very shallow to deep quickly. Downriver, especially toward the lower end, Cornfield Harbor near Point Lookout has shown to hold flounder for minnow drifters, and mid-river trollers and sight casters score on a mix of rockfish and blues. Some of the ditches and drops near shore and in the feeder creek mouths are home to Norfolk spot. In the Wicomico River, rental boaters who start at Quade's Store in Bushwood (301/769-3903) find perch and spot, maybe an odd catfish on baits.