I went back out today, hell bent on catching a bass! I knew they were there, but I got shutout for 1.5 hours, than caught 5 in 15 minutes. The weekend is saved! I had to switch colors to green pumpkin to get bites, none of my normal colors worked.  Well, it was that or the arriving storm or low pressure front, the timing was the same.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts WV, I agree the cooler temps probably slowed the expected spawn.

Went out to BH last Thursday. Just fished the area around the boat ramp for a couple hours. Reminded why this is NOT my favorite time of the year. The water temp was 63-64, the same temp it was three weeks ago! Just dinks up close. Fished some deep stumps and got a couple nice ones to follow a crank bait up from the depths, but no takers. And now, what with all this fine fine weather, things are bound to...remain the same....until Friday when it will hit 80....at last. When was the last time we had snow in May?

;D :-[ All three of these are how I feel now. My son and I went to Cacapon State Park lake this evening. We caught 4 fish...3 for me and one for my son. First fish was about 12 inches and maybe a pound or so. Second fish my son caught was I'm guessing about 2 lbs and a female with roe. My second fish was a little smaller than his but with roe. Then the smile fish. I'm guessing  5 lbs and maybe more. Judging by the first picture under Basser89's posts...they were the same size. Now the embarrassed...we didn't take our camera. This was by far the largest bass I've caught. Now the sad and what I'm going to say now is also embarrassing and makes me kinda not want to catch any more fish. I was using a rattling crankbait with a black back, gold sides and a red-breasted underbelly. Don't know brand but I bought it at Ollies in Dover, DE. The large fish swallowed it and the back hook was in the gills. Had to use needle nose pliers and come in the back way to get hooks loose. Now anyone who fishes can guess what happens...yeah...bleeding. The lake was drawn down about 8 feet so we were in a leafy muddy bank and couldn't get to the water without sinking. I got the hook out and got her back in the water. She moved a little under some leaves. About 5 seconds later she kicked off never to be seen again. I'm hoping and praying she lives. You more experienced fishermen can tell me more about this situation. We were fished another 45 minutes and saw no signs of her. On a side note we need to take our camera...my son siad after the fish was released it was a citation fish...most likely was. With the fish still with roe I would say the spawn is near at least in that small lake.

Glad to hear someone has been getting out! Didn't make it out last weekend and work was INSANE this week so no trips at lunch or after work either. I did get out this evening just to wet a little line in the canal here in Williamsport. Managed one little scrapper on a spinnerbait. Water has way too cloudy to tell if there is any sign of beds there. Was in such a rush, I didn't even remember to check the water temp, it was getting dark and I needed to get some casts in! Good to know I wasn't that rusty! LOL!

Time for my vacation to start, have a tourney tomorrow then a week of fishing. If anyone is heading out next week let me  know maybe we can meet up.

Time for my vacation to start, have a tourney tomorrow then a week of fishing. If anyone is heading out next week let me know maybe we can meet up.

One stinkin day earlier than me! Ya BUM! LOL! Good luck with the tournament!

Went out to Brownsville yesterday and caught three fish. Two were small and hit a red shakey head worm. The third was 3 pounds. I saw him sitting under the tree and threw a black pond magic buzzbait at him. He hit on the second pass. This is my first buzzbait bass.

Fished a tournament on Conowingo out of Glen Cove marina. Never been there before so was looking forward to it. Day started slow but got better mid way thru. Ended up having my 5 fish limit for 10lbs 11oz. Not a huge limit but enough to get second place in the co-angler ranks. Most of my fish were caught on a  jig/craw, some on a slider head, and the biggest one on a t-rigged baby brush hog.

Hit two little ponds today. Started off at Brunswick and managed one there. It was just a dink but caught it on a Yum Money Hound! First bass I've caught on it! Can't believe how choked that place was going to be with grass! Wasn't prepared for all of that. Ended up running over to Brownsville pond to wrap up the day. FINALLY found some bass on beds!!! Found 5 (that I could see) hanging out in the one area. Tried teasing them with a couple different jigs at first but they weren't having any of that. Ended up getting a 2-6 on a wacky rigged Strike King Shimey Stick. Took a pic of that one with my cell phone but it didn't turn out real well.

Tomorrow, BrianinMD and I are hitting Big Pool!

My son and I got out to Poorhouse Pond(6 acres outside Martinsburg). Saw about ten ficjh on beds. Hooked two and lost both. Water was really cloudy and full of algae. Fish were a little spooky and not much inteested in feeding. Looks like most fish there have spawned. I'm off Friday(unless something happens at work between now and then) and thinking real serious about getting my non-resident MD license. Would like to try some of these ponds you guys fish. Most seem to be around 15/20 miles from us. I work in Greencastle and pass over Williamsport Bridge on Rt. 11 5 or 6 days a week. I could stop at the Cushwa area  easily. Not sure of the price if around $40 I will get it online and fish Friday. I've been talking to some fishermen and they think the large bass I caught that was bleeding will be OK. They said as long as she took off things would be fine. Really hoping so. :-/

Got in a little while ago from fishing Big Pool with Brian. That was my first time there this year and was thrown a curve ball from the start. Levels were about 3' or so high, can't remember ever seeing it that high before. Water temps were about 70 at the start (made it up to 72 by the time we were done). It was a dink-fest day. Nothing but little farts. Caught them on a variety of baits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, wiggle warts and senkos in depths from about 6 inches to about 6-7 feet.

Had a good time Brian! We'll have to do it again sometime!

I'm curious if any of you guys know of a website that posts the water temp of the potomac river.  I just tried finding one, but I can't.  I'm curious mainly about the water around the bridge near Harpers Ferry.

Thanks!!

Got to spend a great day yesterday fishing with Hellbenderman at Black Hills. Found a lot of largemouth on beds, some of the covers had nice fish all over the place. As we went cove to cove we got into some real nice fish, one of my better days. I got 4 between 18 and 20 inches. Hellbenderman got several large ones also including a 5lb 9oz for the largest of the day.

Have to thank Hellbenderman again for taking me out for such a great day.

A couple more pics.

Just got my non-resident Maryland license. ;D My son and I will try to get out this afternoon. Lokks like the Cushwa Basin, Brownsville Pond and Sharpsburg Pond are the closest for us. Maybe we can see some of you all along the way. Seeing some of your posts and pictures lets me know I made a good decision.

Projected casting distance this weekend in Maryland: With the Wind: 400 Yds +; Against the Wind: On Your Face, Level 5. Shhhheeeeeeesh.

I'm curious if any of you guys know of a website that posts the water temp of the potomac river. I just tried finding one, but I can't. I'm curious mainly about the water around the bridge near Harpers Ferry.

Thanks!!

Call 1-301-223-6377 it is the river report for Williamsport, MD.

Allen

I have been going down to Smith Mountain Lake for a few years now, and I can't say enough good things about the place. Even though we are targeting large mouth, we always catch a couple big smallies 4-6 pounders. We catch them on senkos and cranks off rock piles and such late in the day usually. Not being a big smallie fisherman, I'm not sure how to approach these smallies in other than an incidental fashion. How would some of you smallie guys specifically target these fish in a big lake like SML?

Got to use my new MD license Saturday and Sunday. Stopped at Williamsport Canal Basin on way home from work. Tried the creek too. No luck...lots of wind. Got home and my son and I checked out Sharpsburg Pond and Brownsville Pond. Sharpsburg had quite a bit of grass and was a little small. Wind was blowing and water was clear. Saw two fish on beds and a couple more hanging out above grass. Couldn't get a bite. At Brownsville wind was really blowing and chilly. Water was too cloudy to see any beds. Did catch a shorty on my crankbait...maybe 8/9 inches or so. Checked out Middletown Pond on way home from spending Mother's Day with wife in Frederick. Was getting dark, was windy and cool. Saw numerous beds with no fish on the end near a road. Guess the spawn is over there. Lots of something floating on surface there...probably good place for a weedless frog or something. Did catch another shorty on my crankbait. Only about 7/8 inches long. Really liked this pond though. Hoping to get back soon.'

Anyone know any good spots in Howard County or neighboring counties?

Welcome p8nt, not to familiar with that part of the state but just did a tourney out of Conowingo. Not sure how far away you are from there but was a good day, good largemouth and smallmouth.

Are you fishing from shore or do you have a boat?

p8nt, centennial lake was a decent spot to fish last year. I haven't caught a fish in there yet. you can try lake elkhorn, and fish near the rockside.

Brian, did you see the post about the guy in Georgia who has caught more than a thousand 10lb. + bass? I think you'll find it interesting and reinforce what I told about "growing " your own ten pounder! Sean...what's up. Going to Smith Mountain for a few days to wear myself out. See you when I get back. Has BH reached ice out yet?

Anyone know any good spots in Howard County or neighboring counties?

I hit lake Kittamaqundi today (near columbia mall) and caught two 10" smallmouth on a black booyah spinner. East side shoreline is pretty grungy, so wear something nasty-able. I saw someone catch a fair-looking LM on a white/chart offset spinner, but since I'd snagged mine up at loch raven last week, I didn't get a chance to try that.

There's a lot of nasty algae growing on the mud all along the west side, made throwing any kind of treble a pain in the toe.

A note: Burning a ratt-l-trap along the shoreline here may result in you snagging the head nearly off small bluegill. Wish I had a pic of that...

P8nt and BassScha,

Welcome to THE boards!!!!

Hey Chris,

Haven't gotten out a lot lately. Getting ready to move so time hasn't been on my side. It's driving me nuts not getting out right now! Hopefully the crazyness will be over soon and I can get some fishing in!!! Good luck at Smith Mountain!