The regions received some rain finally late last week and it did wonders to spruce up the flows in many of the regions streams but it will take a lot more than 4” of rain to fill of the reservoirs. Many such as Liberty, Loch Raven, Prettyboy and Rocky Gorge are showing a lot of exposed bottom along their banks but fishermen are reporting that the fishing is still very good. Largemouth bass are definitely in the feeding mode now as cool water stimulates their feeding activity. Crawfish are moving along the bottoms looking for deeper refuge for the winter months and smallmouth and largemouth bass are taking advantage of the situation. Jigs and crankbaits that imitate crawfish are great baits this time of the year in many of the reservoirs.

Fishermen are reporting good fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass in the lower Susquehanna River and good largemouth bass fishing in many of the regions tidal rivers and creeks. The grass beds are beginning to break up in many of the tidal areas as water temperature dip to 60-degrees. Largemouth bass fishermen are reporting that isolated patches of grass are some of the best places to fish for big largemouth. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits such as the Mann’s Baby Minus-1 are excellent choices for lures to use. Some of the deeper structure such as bridge piers, old docks, rock piles and sunken wood are also excellent places to fish.

Trout fishermen have been enjoying the results of a generous fall trout stocking program this past month and Central Region fisheries biologist Charlie Gougeon sent us a report. By now, all areas targeted for fall trout have been stocked. The Albert Powell Trout Hatchery in Hagerstown, MD did a fantastic job of raising a nice mix of beautiful trout. Anglers will find a mix of "Golden Rainbow Trout", Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout that averaged between 12 and 16 inches in length! The brown trout were really spectacular.

Colors on the browns were reminiscent of wild trout and some of the males had begun to develop a hooked jaw, or kype. The hook jaw is a secondary sexual characteristic that appears only during the spawning period and then disappears. Fish that have a well developed kype are that much more impressive when in hand! The hatchery staff at the Albert Powell Hatchery is very deserving of a hand. The role they play is often over looked in the grand scheme of things, however, without their expertise and dedication, put-and-take trout fishing in Maryland would not be what it is today. The recent rainfall is expected to replenish the flow in our area streams and rivers, so anglers should see better opportunities for catching some of the recently stocked fall trout, as the survivors will tend to disperse with rising water levels.

Southern regional fisheries biologist Mary Groves sent us this report from recent field surveys. Sampling tidal largemouth bass with electro fishing equipment has been a little rough since salinities in many of the creeks has been high due to the drought. Water temperatures have also been unusually high this fall which has kept many of the bass from staging in their typical feeding areas. In Mattawoman Creek, we did find good numbers of largemouth bass but we also found blue catfish and spot as well. Largemouth reproduction was good this year, with many small fish showing up in most of the creeks. This wasn't much of surprise since grass beds did well this year with the exception of areas north of Broad Creek.

Two night surveys were conducted on St. Mary's and Wheatley Lake (Gilbert Run). The photo shows Ryan Murphy holding up two of the nicer bass collected at St. Mary's. After the 5 and 6 pounder were weighed and measured, they were released safely back into the lake. There were plenty of fat black crappie in St. Mary's, along with some nice chain pickerel.