The fall stocking of trout is coming up in October and now is a good time to prepare tackle for yourself and any young anglers. At times, striped bass and puppy drum can be part of the mix. The Conowingo Dam dams the Susquehanna River on the line between Cecil and Harford counties, MD. But if you really want to see a lot of eagles at one time, up close, diving for — and often fighting over — fish, […] The dams also make a negative impact on the environment. At the inlet, bluefish are being caught by those casting bucktails and metal lures, or drifting cut bait or live spot and mullet. Get regular updates on Maryland’s waters sent to your inbox with our Eyes on the Bay newsletter. The spawn is going to vary in time from the top of the Chesapeake to lower Bay and the ocean side. Nora Long holds up a nice Spanish mackerel. Veteran eagle watchers at the dam know to check with anglers at the fishing grounds below the dam to see if they are catching fish — a sign that eagles will likely be on hand, too. To see the latest water clarity conditions, check Eyes on the Bay Satellite Maps. To see the latest water clarity conditions, check, For more detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, be sure to check out. Traditional baits of squid and minnows always work well but increase the number of small flounder being caught. The stocking crews will do their best to spread the trout out whenever possible. below Conowingo Dam using baited hoop nets. Large live minnows under a bobber or lip hooked and worked near shoreline structure will also work well. Total length and weight are recorded from each fish collected. The shallower end of the west side of the Bay Bridge, the front of Sandy Point, and the knolls and shoals of the upper bay are traditional places to find white perch. Sign up online. Big streamers (4-5") and small at about 1". A photographer with a large telephoto lens photographs bald eagles fishing on the Susquehanna River below the Conowingo Dam. I actually caught three of them. In tidal waters, main river points and feeder creeks are good places to target. Pollution flows downstream. Live-lining small white perch and spot continues to be a productive way to fish but trolling and jigging are becoming more popular. Mature bald eagle fishing below the Conowingo dam. Flounder fishing is very good in the channels leading to the inlet. Many freshwater species of fish will start to feel the cooling water temperatures and the fact we lose about 15 minutes a week in daylight. Maryland Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, Maryland Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist. Hydroelectric power is considered an environmentally friendly method of power generation. Drive across the upper portion of the dam for a view of the lake on one side and lower river heading to the Chesapeake Bay! The Conowingo Dam has suspended appreciable power generation for several days, causing low water flows at the dam pool and lower river. Photo courtesy of Herb Floyd. This will result in cool-water preferring fish being able to move more vertically to find suitable oxygen and temperature conditions. Most were caught just below Conowingo, though some were also collected in Maryland’s Coastal Bays. The upstream pools can become environmentally unsound below the surface, especially during summer. The Conowingo Dam is located in the Northeastern region of Maryland, which is about 9.9 miles (16 km) from the river mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, and about 5 miles (8 km) south of the Pennsylvania border, and 45 miles (72 km) northeast of Baltimore. Additionally, the otoliths (the fish’s ear bone) from each fish is extracted and examined to determine the fish’s age. Striped bass are also being caught with most shy of the 28-inch minimum. An American bald eagle bags a fish in the prime fishing grounds below Conowingo Dam in Harford County, Maryland on November 29, 2012. Octoraro Creek Trail at Conowingo Park. The water releases from the Conowingo Dam have been below the seasonal average causing the Susquehanna River water levels to be very low. Conowingo Dam—at US Route 1. Total length and weight are recorded from each fish collected. Northern snakeheads will still be found holding near grass but will be more common on the outside edges and submerged wood such as fallen brush or tree branches. I do not see the glowing reports of good fishing below Conowingo like I saw even 5 yrs ago. Flounder can be caught on squid. 21918 ( 410 ) 996-8101 to cool Chesapeake bay waters are a good place to look for alternative cover,! Caught with most shy of the spot are now sized to offer fun and. White paddle tails rigged weedless is a great place to fish with,. 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