March 20, 2020
A couple warm days have increased river temperature, that paired with a shot of current from recent rain has slightly improved fishing for all species present in the river. The hickory shad bite yesterday wasn’t spectacular by mid-season standards but it was likely the best bite anglers have had all season. Shad fisherman from shore and personal watercraft caught hickories with a couple anglers entering the double digits. Stripers are still slow at the moment but with the way the run has been the last several years this could just be the new normal for early season. As more bait enters the upper tidal Potomac the catfish have also increased activity. No signs of perch yet. With a cool down coming this weekend we will see a pause in the progress we’ve made over these warm days. The fish will still be there but will be much less active as the water temperature drops. It is still early season with plenty of time for improvement.