Fishing Report For Prettyboy Reservoir, MD

Current Report: Fair

FALL. Now that Fall has arrived, bass here have moved shallow, following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays around 4 to 20 feet of water. Locals report crankbaits and stick worms to be two reliable baits at Prettyboy Reservoir. Crankbaits are particularly effective when the bass are active. Bass tournaments held by Electric Bass Anglers, are limited to electric or human powered boats. The event held in August of took over a 3 1/4-pound average to win. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 15 to 25 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and especially creek channels edges in the main basin. They can be found from 15 to 40 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move into 6 to 12 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Pockets and coves in the northern section of the lake above the Beckleysville Road bridge, are good choices. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 2 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 3 to 8 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 4 to 12 feet of water, on square-bill crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 30 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around main lake humps and deep timber in the north arm.

Current Report: Fair

FALL. Baitfish, which are moving into shallow flats, coves and bays, are drawing crappie into these areas. They have been feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 6 to 12 feet of water. Creek mouths in the vicinity of Prettyboy Boat Ramp are popular choices. Local crappie gurus report 4 lb line or less is a benefit for catching big crappie here. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons, fished in 12 to 20 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 20 to 35 feet of water. Most are caught around deep brush piles, creek channels near bends, submerged timber, and main-lake structure. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 10 to 15 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 3 to 12 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. The northern bays warm first, and are a good area to start. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 4 to 8 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 12 to 18 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 12 to 28 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. Good concentrations of crappie are typically found in the main-lake river channel, southeast of the Beckleysville Road bridge. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish here. Numerous rivers and creeks empty into Prettyboy Reservoir, delivering nutrient-rich water. Channel catfish favor feeding flats, off these river and creek channels, especially next to deeper water. Spook Hill Bay and the flats south of the Clipper Mill Road bridge are popular. Early in Fall they cruise the 6 to 20 feet deep shallows, in search of food. Later, in the season they migrate away from the shallows and current, to moderately deep flats and channel edges on the main body of the lake. They can typically be found from 10 to 25 feet deep. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Drift fishing or slow-trolling baits along mid-depth structure is popular and generally productive. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig setup. Use cut bait, nightcrawlers, shrimp or prepared baits. They remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.

WINTER. In Winter, the channel cats gather in deep holes and go virtually dormant, especially if water cools into the 40's. They hole up in pockets, deeper channels, ledges, and the basin areas from 15 to 35 feet deep and await warmer water. Channel edges in the area of the dam are good options. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, can still entice strikes. Often during mid day, through the afternoon, anglers are catching them a bit shallower on the same structure.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration into coves and up river. Early in the season, look for them in 4 to 15 feet of water. They hold here, and feed aggressively, around relatively shallow cover until water warms into the mid 70's, at which time they begin the spawn process. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs to get, and keep, the bait close to the bottom. Later in Spring, focus on shallower flats into late evening.

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake may draw catfish to feed. Otherwise they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are using nightcrawlers, cut bait, minnows or shrimp. Most channel cats hold in 11 to 30 feet during the day, and 4 to 12 feet during the night. Fishing from late in the day until midnight produces some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.