The Susquehanna Flats, description: This area is the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay with fresh water coming from the Susquehanna River. It is located near Havre de Grace, MD. This area rarely warms to the comfort levels for the Striped Bass until mid-April. Only then can a fly fisherman expect to find these large fish in the very skinny waters of the flats.
Locations early spring: Before mid April the best location for the flats, isn’t the flats at all but up the river. The big fish can be found there in deep fast moving water. Not a likely spot to use fly gear. But by mid April you can start to find water on the flats approaching 50 plus degrees. Cruise the entire flats area and become familiar with warm areas of water. The warmer the water, the better the fishing will be. If the majority of the water is 53 and you find 54.5, look out! It’s likely that large stripers will find their way here too!
Rod weight: nine and ten weight rods.
Ideal line types: floating or short sink tip lines (15′ or less).
Fly’s: Poppers and bunker patterns. Half and half are in large sizes.
Color selection: Chartreuse and white, blue and white, white over white.
Best location/methods: Early in the season the depths that tend to have these temperature variations will probably be 6 to 9 feet around the outside of the Flats. Later, look in shallower water, especially if it will be affected by the warming effect of the sun. Be stealthy about it. Don’t spook the fish you are trying to catch.
Fishing technique: When in the 9 foot levels and you are using any fly line that lets you get into the middle areas of the depth is good. I even use deep sink lines and start stripping quickly (remember 6 inches per second). Just below the surface is frequently the best, however. This can be handled with a floating line nicely. When you get as lucky and the fish are chasing poppers you are truly going to be blessed with a wonderful time. Nothing can be as exciting as watching a big Striped Bass eat a popper. Fully sinking to the bottom is often necessary, especially when the water is colder. The water can be warmer near the bottom and food is naturally available for the Striped Bass near the bottom. Expect to catch your share of grass when using a sinking line. The Susquehanna Flats is full of grass.
The Season in Review: The 2009 spring season has ended now. We all look back on previous years with regret since fishing is getting worse in all but a few fisheries. Five years ago I could catch more fish in one day than I now catch in the whole season. This has been getting worse with every year. Why keep fishing the Flats? It is still the only place where one can catch a really large Striped Bass in water that is 3 feet deep. What about this season? On my best day, my client landed two fish that were about 45 inches and 45 pounds. This was around the 15th of April. The best day following that was when the fish (several acres worth) were spawning on the surface at the mouth to the Susquehanna Flats. My client caught several fish, but this was lucky. The fish were very distracted. The last day of the season, May 3rd was frustrating but exciting at the same time. My clients and I saw many fish that were very large and for several hours frustrated ourselves with trying to catch one. There were many blow-ups right at the boat or very close. Many times the fly was followed only to have the fish turn way at the last minute. We saw fish that easily were over 50 pounds. Explanation? The bait we observed was a small (2 to 3 inch) very shiny small fish. It was possibly a very young American shad or something that is similar in shape. These were not possible to imitate with a popper and the grass was way too thick to use anything but a popper. At the time we were pursuing these fish I poled or drifted in two feet to three feet of water with grass up to the surface of the water. Every fly caught on this, even a popper. The big fish were moving through it and feeding on this bait with real abandon. I will have to work on a new fly pattern for next season.

“Catch and Release” fishing on the Susquehanna Flats has some of the hottest spring fly-fishing action on Chesapeake Bay. Fished from early April until it closes on May 3rd. Many anglers have landed personal bests at the flats. Top water is the best and only method when the big fish are in the ultra skinny water. It’s not common, but when you can sight fish for them in the 2 to 3 feet of water its so exciting. Check out the picture of this client with the 18 pound Striped Bass. He landed this healthy striper at the flats on a Popper.

“Other Spring fishing includes most of the Main Channel, looking to intercept the fish on the way from the spawning areas. The fishing is more difficult, since you are searching the whole Bay area for fish but the rewards are stupendous. I look based upon reports and one fine April day a 40 pound Striped Bass was landed. This fishing could also include the Calvert Cliffs Power Plant known as the “Rips”. Many a nice striper has been pulled out of the warm water discharge area. I’ve fished both areas with great success at each.

General: Spring migration patterns are in motion. Striped Bass, perch, herring, menhaden and shad are all moving toward fresh water to spawn. The mass of Striped Bass were holding in mid-bay with lots of bait to feast on. Water temperatures have been driving the action. Our spawning fish are looking for upper 50’s for the act of laying their eggs. Meanwhile they are staying in comfortable waters (over 50 degrees, which in early spring is mostly deeper water). As fly fishermen we get to exercise our deep sinking lines with heavy Clouser’s or half and half’s to catch them. Be prepared to catch and release these valuable fish quickly. Many will weight over 40 pounds and releasing them quickly is critical to their health and survival.
There are many locations where catch and release fishing for Striped Bass are available on the Chesapeake.
Locations early spring: Power plant warm water discharges, channel edges and the Susquehanna Flats.
Rod weight: nine and ten weight rods.
Ideal line types: full, fast sinking lines.
Fly’s: Very heavy Clouser deep minnows or heavy Half and Half’s.
Color selection: Chartreuse and white, blue and white, white over white.
Best location/methods: when at the power plant start fishing far enough out of the discharge that your fly can get near bottom. This could be around 100 to 200 feet from the beginning of the boil.
When fishing the channel edges watch for diving Gannet’s and use your boats sonar to locate pods of bait. Watch for schools of bait being driven to the surface by the Striped Bass. This may be the only moment when you can cast and catch in shallow water out there.
Fishing technique: Using sinking lines allowing proper time to let the fly sink to the depth of the fish. This is 6 inches per second or allow 50 seconds in 25 feet of water. Be sure to have a higher percentage of line in the water greater than the depth you are fishing or in. Example: if fishing channel edges at 45 feet of depth I would use 90 feet of fly line to insure getting the fly line to the depth and maximizing the time the fly is in the zone. This is referred to as dredging but call it what you will, big fish results are lots of fun. Fast strip is preferred but experiment with retrieve times when in the fish.