Spring Trophy Season in Middle Bay

[Ted Wolf]

Does anyone have much experience with the striper spring run in the middle bay area (around Deale, MD).  I know this area is heavily trolled with big umbrella rigs and such, but has anyone had much success with fly gear?  Does the bay bridge area offer the most potential?  I hear more about the Susquehanna Flats for fly anglers, but it is also twice the drive.

[Patrick Ottenhoff]

The mouths of the Eastern Bay, Choptank, Nanticoke, and Potomac all hold rocks in the spring.  They'll be there right after spawning up the rivers - mid-April for the Chop and late April for the Nanticoke and Potomac.  They say the SH holds 50% of the spawning population, so all those other rivers hold the other half. Check out the first structure, shelf, or hard (gravelly/sandy) bottoms at the mouth of those rivers right after spawning. 

[HeaveToo]

Point Lookout is the point where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay.  This area can be very dangerous and it has a lot of current running around it.  Here the current of the Bay meets the Current of the Potomac River.  There is a shoal that comes off of Point Lookout.  It can be found by looking where the marker is on the point and between that and the lighthouse is where the shoal is.  Sometimes it is visible during low tide.  This is very shallow water and it extends 1/2 to 3/4 the way from the point to the marker. 

I would imagine that the marker in the river would hold fish.  I would also imagine that areas around the shoal would hold fish due to structure and current. 

You would need a boat to fish the area.  I wouldn't do it in a kayak because I know what the river is capable of.  I have sailed through there a few times a year for most of my life and I have developed a profound respect for this area.  A wind out of the North West makes that place NASTY. 

You could launch a boat out of Point Lookout State Park and be there very quickly.  I would imagine you would use a sinking line in the area but once in a while they may be on the top.