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Ken Penrod’s Life Outdoors Unlimited Fishing Report
Week Ending May 14, 2006
4708 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
Office Answering Machine: 301-937-0010. Penrod’s Cell: 240-447-2206
Penrod E-mail: kenpenrod@comcast.net  Office Fax: 301-931-2040
www.penrodsguides.com  www.fishdeepcreek.com


Notes: For the most part, spawning activity through our region is 90% complete. The new moon period of May will trigger “C” Team, the last of it.. From free flowing rivers to inland lakes, and tidal water, the 2006 spawn should be one of the best on record. Moderate temperatures and the absence of flooding was the major reason.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, PA: Recent rains will add water flow to the river from both branches and the Juniata. Expect 4.8 feet by Monday (15th) and it could reach 5-feet later in the week. Water temperature ranges between 55-63 degrees. Clear water condition will yield to some staining and bass fishing has been very good. LOU guide Mike Breeding calls it “phenomenal,” as he refers to the spinnerbait bite between the Juniata and Montgomery Ferry. “I’m using a Big Mouth Spinnerbait designed by LOU Guide Gene Renner and the bass are destroying it around grass beds.” We are also doing very well between Swatara Creek and the short dam at route 83, especially islands above the Turnpike. Mizmo tubes and Case Sweet Peas do best—but spinnerbaits and plastic jerk baits do-it also.

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER: State DNR biologists confirm a “good” spawn this year and that’s the good news. Low river flow and rumors of poor bass fishing have kept many from this productive fishery—and that’s fine with us, but we do quite well from Edwards Ferry to Brunswick. Our best artificial lures include: Case Magic Stick; Case Salty Minnow; Case Sweet Pea; Mizmo tubes and 1/8th ounce Speed Traps. We use six pound test monofilament on spinning rods and find bass under submersed ledges and deeper holes where chunk rock litter the bottom. Lander is best, and we suggest you fish upriver. Bass are smallish (8-13 inches long) but we almost always catch a bass or two in the 18-inch class.

TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER: All of those Pennsylvania registered bass boats you have been seeing over the past month are tournament anglers. Pennsylvania does not allow bass tournaments during the spawn months so many out-of-state events are held on the Potomac.
Bass fishing has been very good from DC to Aquia and much credit goes to weather patterns and the last of the spawning activity. Clear, blue skies are never good for most of us but a falling barometer and cloudy weather keeps baitfish and mature bass in shallow cover much of the day. Recent storms will cause some staining. Water temperature is about 65 degrees. In the District of Columbia some fine bass come from Columbia Island Marina; Washington Channel; Washington Marina to causeway; bridge foundations at Long Bridge, Roosevelt and Key Bridges. Blue Plains, barges at entrance to Four Mile Run and Fox Ferry Point are good stops. The I-95 Bridge vicinity has been very good this week but do be careful around the construction. There is hectic activity to repair spalling concrete and to open the south lanes this month. Spawning and post spawn bass in the Spoils, Smoot Bay, Belle Haven Cove and Charlies Cove has provided us with lots of action all week. Our best baits have been Case products such as Jacks Stick, Magic Stick and Sweet Peas but Mizmo tubes are hard to beat also. We are doing very well in Piscataway Creek and Bulltown Cove with Magic Sticks fished weightless over grass beds. Case “Paddle Sticks” have been red-hot. Grass beds at Aquia, Wades Bay and Blue Banks are thick but productive, especially along the outside and inside edges. Mattawoman and Occoquan areas have been good to anglers also. Rocky cover and grass beds have been the key patterns.

LAKE ANNA, VA: LOU Associate Glenn Briggs (glenbriggs@aol.com ) reports water temperatures between 68 and 72 degrees. Bass are mostly post spawn and can still be caught in shallow water, along shorelines with deep drops nearby and from boat docks with watermelon Stick-O baits with Texas rig. Stripers are between Stubs Bridge and Jetts Island where Slim Dogs, Red Fins and XPS Twin Tail bleeding jerk baits are favored.

KERR RESERVOIR, VA: LOU Associate Tim Wilson (kickassbassin@aol.com ) reports a level of 300.1 and near-70 degree water temperature. “Bass are in a strong post spawn pattern with many fish caught in 4-10 feet of water with Carolina rigger lizards.” Tim is watching some bass chasing shad on shallow flats and predicts topwater action real soon.