Upper Chesapeake Bay bass fishery thrives
C.C McCotter is a Virginia outdoor writer. Write him at mcfish@ns.gemlink.com
It's not often I drive north three hours on Interstate 95 to go bass fishing.
In fact, the only time I do this usually is for an annual Canadian fishing trip I take in August. However, recently I did point the Jeep northward upon the invitation of Karl Bunch to fish the Susquehanna Flats area of the upper Chesapeake Bay.
Along the way, I drove through Washington, Baltimore and a lot of folks I'll bet wished they were going fishing! It's an interesting drive, to say the least.
Bunch is a licensed Coast Guard captain (a requirement for Bay guides) that had been after me to join him for a day of fishing on the brackish waters located where the Susquehanna River meets the head of the Chesapeake Bay. The result is a brackish fishery — a mix of fresh and salty water with a daily tidal flux.
To get a handle on where this is, imagine the Chesapeake Bay then picture the extreme upper end where it narrows into a river. The Susquehanna is the Bay's largest tributary, draining large sections of Pennsylvania and New York.
John Smith is credited as the first European to see this part of the country. It is said Marquis de Lafayette noted how beautiful the area was in his journal exclaiming: "C'est Le Havre de Grace" or "Harbor of Charm" and the name stuck as the Town of Havre de Grace, Md.
During the War of 1812, the British captured and burned the busy town. Later, a canal was opened that created a commerce route from the Bay into central Pennsylvania and other canals that went as far as the Mississippi. By the late 1800s, Havre de Grace was known mostly as a water fowler's paradise and a major producer of herring. In short, this vast area, steeped in history, is quite a picturesque and interesting place to fish.
A place that also has the current reputation as the hottest bass fishery in the East. These days, what brings many folks to the region are tales of 8-pound brackish water bass. These are not common, but I have seen a number of such fish taken from the upper Bay and verified by photos — a good indication of a healthy fishery. Organized fishing tournaments have been recording each day dozens of bass weighing more than 5 pounds.
So how did my day go? I must report to Virginians that the fishery is certainly legitimate, and the time spent with Bunch was memorable.
We fished out of Tydings Park Landing located in Havre de Grace. Here, there is a quality municipal launch open to the public for a $5 ramp fee. As a huge red sun rose above the slick calm water, we slipped Bunch's Bass Cat bass boat off the trailer, and he powered up the 225-hp Mercury. It was going to be a hot and humid day for June.
Bunch knew we didn't have to go far to find some willing largemouths. Using a modified drop shot rig and soft plastic stickbaits from Virginia designer Charlie Case, he showed me how to probe the numerous downed trees along the shoreline. The tactic involved casting out and letting the weight hit the bottom. Next, he told me to tighten up my line and gently shake the rod tip in order to make the stickbait jiggle tantalizingly, hopefully in front of an interested fish.
The odd tactic worked. We caught 10 bass up to nearly 5 pounds, a white perch and a channel catfish. I am always amazed at how hard brackish water bass fight. They easily outpace their freshwater cousins and are much bulkier from constant navigation of tidal flow. The outcome was certainly in question with several of the larger fish we hooked, as wrestling them from sunken branches is no small feat.
Bunch is a personable and knowledgeable guide with excellent equipment. Call him at (410) 459-7445 or visit www.karlsbassinadventures.com if you'd like to explore this revitalized bass fishery this summer.
Here, in Virginia, we have a number of good brackish water bass fisheries. Some I've fished over the years and can recommend include the upper Chickahominy, the upper James, the upper Rapphannock and Potomac Rivers. I note "upper" because most of these rivers are still recovering from the drought years of 2000-02, and bass fishing in the lower sections is still not what it once was.
I would always suggest fishing with a guide for your first time out on these rivers. A professional can show you not only how to catch the bass, but also how to navigate new waters safely, as well as the best places to launch.
Until next time, remember to cherish, protect and conserve the outdoors, while sharing it with others.
Originally published June 15, 2005