Shore fishing Loch Raven 4-12-2013

[chimo]

Managed to get out to Loch Raven for a couple hours yesterday and check out some of my spring crappie holes from shore. Action was slow but steady with 8-10 crappies to 13 inches, 6 pickeral, a bass bluegill and yellow perch coming to shore. All fish caught in and around downed trees on 2 inch curly tail grubs. Nice to get after 'em for the first time this year!

Chimo

[Shady]

nice work and welcome back!

[Poolz1]

Been freshwater fishing my whole life but feel like a rookie asking this....what is that fish in the second pic?

[sparky1423]

That be a pickerel. The black "tear drop" under the eye is the distinguishing mark. They are very common in Loch Raven. My neighbor has a reservoir boat and we would fish there quite often. I caught more pickerel then bass, especially with crankbaits. I would love to put my kayak in there, but its ridiculous to sign a waiver and limit the waters I could fish.

I recognize you from the Jamboree dinner (the hat gives it away), I would have came over and introduced myself, but everyone looks like strangers to me being a first year member.

Been freshwater fishing my whole life but feel like a rookie asking this....what is that fish in the second pic?

[Poolz1]

Thanks! Here I thought I knew just about every freshwater species in the state. Learn something new every day. I always knew the rules were tight about putting a boat into Loch Raven but what's the waiver for? Havent fished there in many years.

[bignose]

When you use a boat in Loch Raven, Prettyboy and Liberty, which are owned by the City of Baltimore, you have to agree to only use your craft on those bodies of water. This is to prevent the infestation of the municipal water supply with Zebra mussels. These have recently been detected in the Susquehanna, so they are not that far away.
Yo cannot use your craft anywhere else.
Like it or not, it is what it is.

BTW, Lake Roland has been taken over by Baltimore County, and they are very Kayak friendly, except no motors-including no electric motors-human power only. Bass, sunfish, crappies and carp.