Fishing discharges in the winter

[ski357]

Hey there Snaggedline-saw the gone quiet thread. Happy New Year! I hope you and yours are all well. Personally, I've been busy at work and have a few irons in the fire. Any how, was wondering if anyone here has fished local discharges in the winter? I've done Morgantown, but it was years ago from a CC. With the 301 bridge construction and the closure of Aqualand, that presents it's own challenges. Chaulk Point and catfish present opportunities for winter fishing. I'm also thinking about Calvert Cliffs. Obviously safety is first on the agenda, but I'm wondering your thoughts and take on the matter. I try and start some other threads about some winter mods-i.e. anchor trolley and electronics I plan in the next few months and other trips-VA Beach I've got in the works.

[dsaavedra]

I too have wondered about this. Recently I tried my first attempt at blue catfishing near the Benedict bridge and got skunked, though I didn't have time to make the run up to Chalk Point. One of my colleagues did his Master's thesis on blue catfish populations in the Patuxent River and mentioned to me that warm water discharges present increased risk of Vibrio bacteria, due to the fact that the water never gets cold enough to kill them off. Based on that information I likely wouldn't eat any fish caught in WWDs, but I don't see why catch and release would be an issue unless you had open wounds (in which case you should get off the water anyway )

[summersoff]

I have only done Calvert Cliffs on whatshisname charter (I’m blanking, the guy with a Judge). It was fun, but rough. It gets snotty quick out there and not something I would ever do in a kayak. It was also snotty getting to the outflow rip. And if I remember correctly, there wasn’t really a close put in.
Not sure about the other spot

[J.A. Veil]

I have only done Calvert Cliffs on whatshisname charter (I’m blanking, the guy with a Judge). It was fun, but rough. It gets snotty quick out there and not something I would ever do in a kayak. It was also snotty getting to the outflow rip. And if I remember correctly, there wasn’t really a close put in.
Not sure about the other spot

The Calvert Cliffs rips is a well-know winter fishing spot. Calvert Cliffs was designed to pump up to 3 billion gallons per day of bay water through the plant to condense steam. As it passes through the condenser, the water warms a few degrees. The combination of slightly warmer water and fast moving water near the end of the pipe attracts fish. There are no public launch areas near there. I know of a guy who once paddled an SUP several miles over open water to the rips, caught some fish, then paddled back. That is not something I want to do. Light tackle guide Walleye Pete offers frequent trips there during the winter. Other guides and some recreational anglers whose boats have not been winterized also fish there.

The Maryland DNR has one program called the Power Plant Research Program. It studies impacts of the state's power plants. You can find a map of the locations of the power plants at Power Plant Locations In and Around Maryland. Not all of these plants have warm water discharges, but it does give you a place to start.

[Jigsup]

Lord be willing I plan on trying the Benedict area also soon. Back when I had a center console I did try to find the discharge at chalk point to try fishing it. Never did find it. Know where it is now and the closes launch that I found for kayak would be cedar haven fishing area. It’s not really a launch more of a beach. If you catch the tide right it looks to be a very easy paddle to and fro. Never thought about bacteria let alone Vibrio bacteria. Will have to do some research. Don’t see why eating one or two would hurt.

Calvert cliff is out of the question for kayak. Not only would the paddle be dangerous but being at the location with the boaters who often only care about themselves and think they own the discharge is just not a situation I/anyone should want to be in. Not everyone that visit Calvert cliff is evil. But all it takes is one. If I’m not mistaken recently on the ken lamb report he admonished boaters to be mindful of others because there was a bad situation at that discharge.

[captmikestarrett]

Some additional power plant outlets/ warm water are Blue Plains. The Alexandria VA power plant. The back of Possum Point Va plant. ( nice warm water outlet in the back of Quantico Creek )

You also have the warm water discharge creek just north of Washington Sailing Marina.

I also heard of another outlet in the Duck Pond.

The old Aquialand launch was great in its heyday but now permitted for nets that run right across it..Used have a blast in the winter months there.

So do not give up on winter fishing. I myself am learning carp so I have some winter fishing on those warm enough days.

Capt Mike

[mepps3]

Some additional power plant outlets/ warm water are Blue Plains. The Alexandria VA power plant. The back of Possum Point Va plant. ( nice warm water outlet in the back of Quantico Creek )

You also have the warm water discharge creek just north of Washington Sailing Marina.

I also heard of another outlet in the Duck Pond.

The old Aquialand launch was great in its heyday but now permitted for nets that run right across it..Used have a blast in the winter months there.

So do not give up on winter fishing. I myself am learning carp so I have some winter fishing on those warm enough days.

Capt Mike

There is a small discharge at the duck pond (Roaches Run by national airport) that is the effluent from the pentagon. It is quite warm and shallow, but there is deeper water nearby. I would imagine catfish would congregate.

[Redfish12]

I caught a 38" blue cat in that duck pond one time trying to catch snakeheads / bass / crappie. I was trolling a beetlespin from one patch of spatterdock to the other and it crushed my light rod. It took a long time to get in and lots of maneuvering to get it in the kayak. That place was nasty but full of fish. There's another warm water discharge in Alexandria (people call it the aquarium) that is kind of cool. You can see bass, bluegill, several species of carp, snakeheads, goldfish, talapia?, and all sorts of other random stuff there. The fish are spooky but generally you can get a couple to bite. Anyone know where they are on the eastern shore?

[ski357]

Reckon I should check in on this thread. Thanks all for the replies. I've been busy with work and life as of late, hope all are well. Lots of great advice and suggestions so far. So far this month, I've been out twice on the kayak. Both times were just paddling. Might go out this weekend, but more of a scouting trip. Will keep all updated.

[J.A. Veil]

The fish are spooky but generally you can get a couple to bite. Anyone know where they are on the eastern shore?

Michael - If you are referring to warm water discharges on the eastern shore, take a look at the map I referenced in my earlier post. There are a few smaller power plants on the shore that may have warm water discharges. I have never fished at those spots and cannot offer any personal intel.

If you are referring to where the fish are, that is a tougher question. Many anglers head to the various mill ponds in MD and DE during the colder months. I visited two ponds on Jan 5. I was skunked on one but caught 13 pickerel at the second one. Last week, I visited the same pond that had produced well during the previous week. The sun was shining, and the air temp was milder, but the fish were less interested. In the same amount of fishing time, I managed only 5 pickerel.

In a few more weeks, some of the species will begin their annual spawning runs. If you have good timing, there are shots at yellow perch, shad, river herring, and white perch in some of the freshwater tidal streams.

[Redfish12]

Thanks, I will check it out and I plan on trying to do some more eastern shore exploring this year!