Another slow Perch day

[bignose]

I got out and fished a local tidal creek today.
My fishing exploits have been rather limited due to some health issues, and I appreciate every chance I can to be on the water.

The fishing was pretty slow today.
4 Perch in an hour qualifies as slow, but at least I did manage to catch a few.

The water was off colored, stained, with about 1 foot of visibility. The tide was supposed to be going out, but I noticed no current.
A bright bluebird sky probably didn't help, and limited my time on the water, as I am trying to limit my sun exposure.

So, as others have reported, the Western Shore rivers have been disappointing so far this season.

[ski357]

I'll be posting a report soon, but my one hour trip this evening yielded similar results. Lots of horned pond weed floating and still on the bottom.

[Red_Beard]

I had slightly better luck Sunday afternoon in Rock Creek off of the Patapsco River. I launched from Fort Smallwood Park, and made my way back into the creek for maybe four hours of fishing. I managed to catch somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-30 white perch, one yellow perch, a couple of pickerel, and a few small striped bass.

The perch were all found under boat docks, and the bite was very hit or miss from dock to dock. They were either on a dock in mass, or completely absent. The first dock I found them under I was catching fish almost cast after cast, and got more than half my perch on that one dock. I picked a few more off of a couple other docks. They seemed to prefer larger docks with wider platforms at the end that would provide more shade, and extra pilings to hang around.

There was an incredible amount of juvenile menhaden in Rock Creek, from the mouth to clear up into the backs of the side creeks. I'm pretty excited for the fall rockfish bite if that bait sticks around into October.

[Mark]

Cliff,

Did you use the alternate and newest kayak launch at Ft. Smallwood -- the one near the boat ramps?

That's much closer to Rock Creek than the launch near the remains of the fort.

Thanks for your report.

It's good to hear that Rock Creek produced well for you.

[Red_Beard]

Mark,

Yes, I did use the new soft kayak launch near the boat ramp. I have to say it isn't much of a launch as it currently only allows enough of a gap in the reeds to launch one kayak at a time, but it's better than nothing. I will also warn that it is very well hidden by the reeds when you return at the end of the day. You basically can't even see it until you get all the way into the back of that little cove, but the fishing pier is impossible to miss so you know you're in the right place at least. Most of the fish I caught were in that second cove on the right as you head back into Rock Creek.

I will warn folks there is a beach along that side of Rock Creek between Fort Smallwood and the cove I fished that attracts a large flotilla of party boats on weekend afternoons. I saw some very unsafe boating behavior while I was out there, so you'll need to keep your head on a swivel while passing through there if you ever try it out in the summer. Thankfully those folks should all be gone by the time the fall rockfish bite heats up.

[Mark]

Thanks Cliff.

I haven't launched from that spot yet but but I think it is a good alternative to the original Ft. Smallwood launch site if you are heading north in the Patapsco to the White Rocks or going to Rock Creek itself.

I walked the site in the spring and noticed it was only a slender path through the reeds. But as you said, you can locate it on the way back because it's near the fishing pier. As I recall, there was sign to direct you to it from the parking lot as you prepare to launch.

That general area of the Patapsco from the White Rocks down to the original launch is indeed good for stripers in the fall. And Rock Creek is excellent for white perch and picks. Also interesting is the artificial aeration in the back portion of the creek -- a long stretch of bubbles like a giant aquarium filter. I like to paddle through them just for the fun of it.

There is another launch site in nearby Weinburg Park which is across the cove from the Ft. Smallwood launch you used. It's near the the "party cove" that you mentioned. However, that site is extremely rustic. I've used it once. I hope the county will target it for an upgrade. A small investment there to create a more neogtiable path to the water and a soft landing area would go a long way for kayakers.

Stu -- Sorry for hijacking your thread. I'm glad to hear you got out. I think the perch are about to wake up for us. You'll catch more than 4 on your next outing. We all will.