Anotherfew weeks

[zak]

Went by Nolands Ferry the other day and the river is very high, middle of the red danger mark on the ramp (POR gauge is ~9'). Also went by Tridelphia and it is iced over, it was supposed to open today.

[ronaultmtd]

yeah, we have had a tough cold winter, but the last week of Spring weather is melting ice fast- I am looking at local opportunities to get out and get some fish...

[Turtle135]

I got out on Mattawoman yesterday. Water was pretty off color but not "rolling mud" like I half expected. Water temperature was 47 - 49 degrees. Only got one bass off a log in 3 feet of water and I did not see any bait nor any plant growth. Never the less things are moving along down there and I expect another week of good weather will get that place fired up. I think the herring will start showing up shortly and the largemouth bass will be right behind them.

[Snakehead Hunter]

I think herring are already in the river, at least in the Occoquan

[Turtle135]

I think herring are already in the river, at least in the Occoquan

In the past I have seen herons lined up every 20 yards along the creek when the bluebacks are making that spawning run into the shallows at Mattawoman. Did not see any of that kind of activity yesterday. Did you get a water temperature at Occoquan?

[zak]

Turtle135 where do you launch on the Mattawoman. I looked at a map and see that NSF Indian Head has ramps. Need to contact MWR to see if I need a permit to use the ramps.

[Turtle135]

Yesterday I launched at Mattingly Park (aka: Slavin's boat ramp). Plenty of parking, no charge and they have a dedicated kayak launch.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/p...onCharles8.pdf

[Snakehead Hunter]

In the past I have seen herons lined up every 20 yards along the creek when the bluebacks are making that spawning run into the shallows at Mattawoman. Did not see any of that kind of activity yesterday. Did you get a water temperature at Occoquan?

I was there last Monday. The water was very cold 29° after all the snow melted. My spoon keep bumping on the herring. I snagged a few of them

[Turtle135]

I was there last Monday. The water was very cold 29° after all the snow melted. My spoon keep bumping on the herring. I snagged a few of them

Were you vertically jigging the spoon in deep water?

[Snakehead Hunter]

Were you vertically jigging the spoon in deep water?

I was vertical jigging kastmaster for perch but I didn't snagged them that way. I snagged them casting spoon to shallow water, just before 95 bridge.

[Turtle135]

I was vertical jigging kastmaster for perch but I didn't snagged them that way. I snagged them casting spoon to shallow water, just before 95 bridge.

Interesting. I am always curious to know where those herring are (and at what water temperature) because wherever they are the predators (largemouth, stripers) are probably not too far away.

[Turtle135]

stopped by two Montgomery County Reservoirs today to look at the ice situation

1. Clopper Lake in Seneca Creek State Park, still largely iced over, not fishable by kayak yet
2. Little Seneca Lake in Black Hill Regional Park. largely iced over but some big holes in the ice have formed, not fishable by kayak yet but perhaps by next weekend

[Snakehead Hunter]

Interesting. I am always curious to know where those herring are (and at what water temperature) because wherever they are the predators (largemouth, stripers) are probably not too far away.

You can't keep them this time of year so I never target them but I heard there are some big one in the river. We're talking 20+ lbs

[bignose]

The Columbia area ponds, Wilde Lake, Centennial, etc. are all still pretty crunchy on top.
The gull are having fun picking up the winter kill fish.

[archeryrob]

Ground water has jumped 4' recently with the melting snow and rain out west. More rain/snow predicted for Friday and next week. The aquifer doesn't have room to hold it, so it will drain into the Potomac. Don't plan on fishing much in the upper Potomac for a month.