Collins catches state record warmouth

There must be something in the water the anglers are drinking in Mechanicsville. Or maybe it’s just that spring is a good time to catch a really big fish in our local waters.

Another Mechanicsville angler had a very lucky day fishing and broke another state record.

Dezi Collins of Mechanicsville was fishing in Wheatley Lake at Gilbert Run Park in Dentsville with some friends when something big hit his 5-inch Senko plastic worm.

Wheatley Lake is home to lots of bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, catfish, crappie and stocked trout. But Collins’ big fish turned out to be something a little more unusual, a 10.72-ounce warmouth, a fish that looks a lot like a rock bass and is part of the sunfish family.

Something else unusual about this catch is that Collins kept the fish alive as it was officially weighed at Thompson’s Seafood and verified by the biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and he plans to return it — alive — back to Wheatley Lake so other anglers can enjoy the experience of catching this fish.

Many Maryland records have been shattered this year so far, including a new record for northern snakehead, white catfish and now warmouth. The 644-pound thresher shark caught in Ocean City two weeks ago was disqualified from becoming a state record because, for safety reasons, the fish was shot. And there are still plenty more days in 2018 for more record-breaking fish to be caught.

But, there is just one day set aside in 2018 to celebrate all the dads and grandpas out there. Did I mention this Sunday is Father’s Day? Make this day extra special and take him fishing. Southern Maryland lakes and

ponds — Despite all the rain, lake and pond fishing has been excellent the past week. Local waters are high and stained which means put your emphasis on noise and smell.

Flashy spinnerbaits and loud topwaters work well. What works even better is if you dab on a generous amount of fish attractant. Smelly Jelly in garlic or crawfish/salt are favorites.

Patuxent River — Ken Lamb at the Tackle Box in Lexington Park (301-863-8151) reports stripers in the 19- to 24-inch range can be found from Point Patience to the Cedar Point lighthouse rockpile. They are biting best in the early morning and at sunset. Perch fishing continues to be good. Spot will join the mix shortly.

According to Lamb, spot like warm water and high salt content, both of which are lacking right now. Some hot, dry days are needed before they show up. Catfish are all the way to the Town Creek pier. So far it doesn’t look like 2018 will be a good year for croaker.

Potomac River — Reel

Bass Adventures guide Andy Andrzejewski (301932-1509) reports that while the bass action has not been fast-paced, it’s

been consistent throughout the tide.

Early morning topwater action can be had along pad fields with buzzbaits or poppers. The inside edges of grass beds hold bass that like chatterbaits, swim jigs, and 9-inch plastic worms.

As the tide falls, Andrzejewski recommends moving to the center of grass beds and pitching or flipping plastic creature baits or jig-and-craw combos. Juniata and Susquehanna

rivers (Pa.) — The closure officially ends today and tomorrow the rivers go back to strictly catch-andrelease for smallmouth bass. These waters get skinny as summer progresses, so now might be the best time to go fishing.

Johnny Cunningham will shuttle you upriver for floats back to Riverfront

Campground in Duncannon, Pa. (717-8345252).

Deep Creek Lake — If you can get some time off work between Monday and Friday, you’ll do much better because the boat traffic on weekends makes it near impossible to fish.

A reliable bass pattern has been to target floating docks and structure such as fallen tree tops or work over the grass beds in the coves.

Walleye fishing has been good for anglers drifting minnows. There hasn’t been any word yet on the big bluegill of summer.

Chesapeake Bay — Lamb reports there were bluefish in the nets of pound netters near Point Lookout. Speckled trout and redfish are in the Honga River and Tangier Sound, but so far they are

far and few between.

Plenty of rockfish can be found throughout the salt islands. Lamb says most are 19 1/2 inches, which is just right for Maryland’s new minimum size. The upper bay is chock full of rockfish for trollers. Mid-bay, chummers are finding good-sized stripers.

Atlantic Ocean — There’s been good striper action around the U.S. Route 50 bridge with lots of throwbacks and the occasional keeper. Anglers are catching flounder on minnows or gulp in all the regular places. Behind the Ocean City Airport and in the East Channel in front of MR Ducks have been hot spots.

A citation sheepshead was caught in the inlet last Sunday. Spot are biting off the Cape Henlopen State Park fishing pier. Bloodworms are the preferred bait but Fishbites will do in a pinch.

Offshore, it’s been lots of yellowfin, bluefin and bigeye in the canyons.

Tip of the week

Largemouth and smallmouth bass rules change tomorrow. Freshwater anglers can keep up to 5 bass per day with a minimum size of 12 inches.

Wheatley Lake is strictly catch-and-release year-round. St. Mary’s Lake, Chesapeake Ranch Estates and the Patuxent Naval Air Test Center have a slot in effect. You can keep up to 5 bass per day, but not any between 11 and 15 inches and only one of your keepers can measure over 15 inches.

In all our tidal waters, the minimum size for keeper bass drops from 15 inches to 12 inches tomorrow.