Put and take trout- Southern Maryland

[ronaultmtd]

Went out this windy, cold morning to Wheatley Lake (park is closed but you can walk in)...using UL spinning gear...no matter how layered...the wind cut into you...had one rainbow trout that came undone trying lifting fish out of the water...didn't matter, I was not going to keep any...after two hours I threw in the towel...only saw one other fish caught...

[Mark]

Wind is our biggest fishing inhibitor even in mild weather. When it's cold and windy it's almost intolerable. I don't even try.

I last fished on Friday. It was cold. Air temps were in the high 30s. The water was 40 degrees. The sky was overcast. The pickerels were noticeably sluggish. Hits were few and subtle. But the wind was low so I was reasonably comfortable -- except when it came time to leave. I'm fine on the water in winter when paddling and casting. But when I'm loading my gear to go home, I get cold. At that point, I find nothing more welcome than the drive home with my vehicle's heater blowing warm air from the dash and at my feet while I'm sipping hot tea from my Thermos.

[ronaultmtd]

I refrain from drinking anything until off the water...shivering intensifies my bladder to make more liquid! But a Hot cup of 7-11 columbian blend on the way home was the cherry on top of the Sundae!

[dsaavedra]

Completely off topic but... do you ever take your kayak out in that lake? How is the fishing?

I used to fish that lake all the time from shore as a kid. Caught countless bluegills and a good number of dink bass but it never stood out as a particularly good fishery, so I've never bothered bringing the kayak there now that I've moved ~1 hour away.

[HJS]

On January 5 & 6, 2021, Maryland DNR stocked several thousand rainbow and golden trout into many areas in southern Maryland and elsewhere. Check out their web page and click on trout stocking.

[ronaultmtd]

Completely off topic but... do you ever take your kayak out in that lake? How is the fishing?

I used to fish that lake all the time from shore as a kid. Caught countless bluegills and a good number of dink bass but it never stood out as a particularly good fishery, so I've never bothered bringing the kayak there now that I've moved ~1 hour away.

Usually Bill and I fish it together, sometimes Moc joins in. It was my very first ever trip out in a kayak back in 2011. Beautiful little impoundment- I have mostly fished it for the put and take Rainbow trout, but by catch always includes an occasional crappie and bass. Have not seen any pickerel caught here. Right now the park is closed but you can transport your kayak up through a walking path to the lake.