Fishing Report
Chesapeake Bay (upper), VA
Summary: 9/11/25 - Anglers fishing for striped bass at the Conowingo Dam pool continue to line up close to the fence and make the long casts towards the turbine wash with soft plastic jigs and paddletails. The dam has been on a pattern of afternoon and evening power generation, but has skipped a few days recently. During these calm conditions fishing for large blue catfish has been a bonus in the dam pool and in the lower Susquehanna River. Anglers report that fishing for striped bass has been very slow along the edges of the Susquehanna Flats and nearby channel edges recently. What little action that does occur is happening during low light conditions. Paddletails and poppers have been two of the more popular lures being used for casting. Blue catfish are very active in the lower Susquehanna and nearby waters. The deep hole below the railroad bridge on the Susquehanna is a very popular location to target large blue catfish. The area around Pooles Island and the Chester River are two other hotspots but anglers should note that blue catfish can be found in every tidal river in the upper Bay. Anglers looking for striped bass in the Patapsco River are finding a few along channel edges and near structure by live-lining spot. There have been a lot of ups and downs in water quality as low dissolved oxygen waters move through the system, so anglers need to be patient. Everyone is waiting for the traditional fall pattern to occur, and it will eventually begin to develop. Anglers are also finding striped bass within the Inner Harbor near piers during the morning and evening while casting paddletails. There has not been much striped bass action reported out in the main part of the Bay this week. White perch are being found on some of the knolls and lumps in the upper Bay. Dropper rigs with small soft plastic jigs are popular and tipping them with Fishbites or grass shrimp helps to entice white perch to strike. Spot are still being found in the Chester River and in front of Sandy Point State Park and some of the knolls and shoals in the Bay. Anglers report a fair percentage are eating size but there are still plenty small enough for live lining. A few more chilly nights and lower water temperatures will encourage them to head south. Chesapeake Channa can be found in most of the region’s tidal rivers and the grass beds of the western shore’s waters tend to provide some of the best fishing opportunities. Casting paddletails, soft frogs, and fishing large minnows are good ways to target them.