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OVERVIEW: The weather patterns appear to be headed back to normal, but mid-week rain may influence some local waters. Memorial Day weekend usually has unpredictable weather and also signals the beginning of summer patterns. Hopefully, we will luck out and have a good one.
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER: Chris Hicks at Hicks Landing says the water is clearing and should be good for the weekend. Last weekend, some good-sized catfish were brought in. The shad and herring are all but gone now. A few stripers will still be caught over the next few weeks, but they are thinning out as well. Donna at Ken's Tackle Shop says the fishing has been tough with all the rains, but one angler checked in a 20-pound catfish caught on cut herring. The bass fishermen should have a good weekend of fishing as long as the waters continue to clear. POTOMAC RIVER: The river remains high with the main stem more stained than the creeks, according to Andy Andrzjewski of Reel Bass Adventures. Also, large amounts of debris litter the river. Good bass catches can be made over grass beds at the mouth of the larger feeder creeks when fished with crank baits or chatter baits. Following up with soft stick worms also produces fish. Marsh banks have bass back in the arrow pads on the high end of the tides. Buzz baits worked deep in the vegetation have also produced. Wood cover also has bass that like a jig or plastic pitched close. Downriver, the striper action has remained hit or miss. No croakers have been reported. LAKE ANNA: No reports. MOTTS RESERVOIR: No reports. CHESAPEAKE BAY: Striper trolling around Buoy 59A was fair last weekend and chumming on the reefs in the Northern Neck region has been good for school-sized rockfish, according to Jerry Thrash at Queen's Creek Outfitters. Speckled trout fishing has turned on. Queens Creek recorded five citation specks last week. Croakers to 14 inches are being caught in the mouth of the Piankitank and in surrounding creeks. Some croaker are showing across the bay in the Buoy 40A area. No flounder were weighed in this week, but fish were said to be around the Cell area. Farther down the bay, Dr. Julie Ball (drjball.com) reports that the drum fishing has been spectacular, especially for the black drum. The red drum are being caught, but not as consistently yet at the blacks. These fish are caught on the shoals of the Eastern Shore and sea clams, chowder clams and crabs will account for most of the fish caught. Some stripers up to 30 inches were reported around the Bridge Tunnel, but small bluefish are there in great numbers, making it hard to catch anything else. Flounder fishing has been sporadic.--Compiled by Michael O'Malley
