| The Upper Chesapeake Bay has been receiving a lot | | | | an ideal spawning ground for tidal bass. It has a clear |
| of notoriety over the last few years due to the | | | | and defined channel leading into the creek, and into all |
| improved catch rates and overall weight increases | | | | points along the shoreline. This provides a virtual |
| reported in the tournaments. While the true river rats | | | | "Freeway" for the bass to follow. This makes the job |
| have known of this bass fishing hotbed for some | | | | of targeting these bass under changing water |
| time now, the recent success is attracting clubs from | | | | conditions and seasons fairly simple. I believe that this |
| all over Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and | | | | is the reason that not only huge numbers of bass in |
| even as far away as New York. Most of this | | | | the Sassafras come here, but I believe they come |
| pressure has converged on the Elk River, and the | | | | from other nearby rivers as well, and possibly even |
| Tyding's Park area in Havre de Grace, Md., since | | | | from farther away. |
| these areas provide more than adequate launching | | | | In the early spring, bass will begin to stack up at the |
| and parking facilities that are necessary to hold the | | | | entrance to Lloyd's Creek in amazing numbers. The |
| tournaments. Many of the smaller club tournaments | | | | water is fast here, and goes from 16 feet in the |
| also start from the Northeast and Elk River areas. | | | | main channel, to as shallow as 1 foot on the shore. |
| With this influx of angling pressure, many of the | | | | This steep drop-off runs from about 300 yards from |
| traditional hot spots have become increasingly | | | | the entrance in the fast moving water, to about 50 |
| crowded during the weekends, and have forced | | | | yards into the creek, and stops at a large dock. The |
| anglers to make longer and longer runs in search of | | | | whole shore on this side is loaded with old trees, |
| untapped bass waters. Many of these anglers have | | | | brush, and rocks. On the opposite side a huge |
| now discovered that the 20-30 minute drive through | | | | peninsula comes across forming a perfect sand point |
| sometimes rough and unsafe water, to the Sassafras | | | | 20 yards from the steep shore. That 20 yard space |
| River, has been well worth the effort. | | | | Is the entrance to Lloyd's Creek. This is why the |
| Ramp and Launching Locations | | | | current rips through this area at an unbelievable pace. |
| The following locations and patterns, have not only | | | | Even a trolling motor of 24 volts, can barely hold |
| produced tournament winning limits, but have | | | | position on its highest setting in this area. The bass |
| produced over 100 bass in the 5-6 pound range, over | | | | congregate all around this sand point and the |
| the last 5 years, from this river. These are true | | | | adjoining areas. |
| "Trophy" bass for a Northeastern River system. | | | | The best baits for this area are Rat-L-Traps in blue |
| The Elk River, via Elk Neck State Park, is probably | | | | chrome, in 3/8 and ½ ounce sizes, Terminator |
| the most popular, due to it's more than adequate | | | | and Spotsticker spinner baits in ½ ounce, with |
| parking facilities, and close proximity to the Sassafras. | | | | Tandem, and/or willow leaf blades, and small crank |
| This is only a 10-15 minute drive from the Sassafras. | | | | baits. About 10 yards from the tip of the point, the |
| Tyding's Park and Marina, located In Havre De Grace, | | | | current swirls to form a large eddy. Many times 15-20 |
| Md., is the farthest, and most difficult drive to access | | | | bass in the 1 ½ to 3 pound range can be |
| the Sassafras River. We launch from this area only | | | | caught on successive casts to this eddy. The other |
| when we have located good numbers of bass on the | | | | tactic is to cast your bait right up on the sand point, |
| Susquehanna Flats or in the nearby coves or docks | | | | and then pull it into the fast moving water, and the |
| of the Northeast. The drive from here can be | | | | bass just slam the bait as it enters, many times on |
| dangerous in the early morning fog and heavy boat | | | | every other cast for an hour or more. On the |
| wakes in the Spring and Summer. At 55 mph, it takes | | | | opposite shore, the bass bunch up on the wood, as it |
| about 25 minutes to reach the first starting point on | | | | is the only thing blocking the current. At slack tides |
| the Sassafras. The best area to launch in the | | | | these bass will slam the same reaction baits as on |
| Sassafras is in Duffy Creek, located right behind the | | | | the point, however, when the current is swift here; |
| Granary Restaurant, on Sassafras Street, in the town | | | | the best thing to do is flip heavier jigs and plastics |
| of Galena. This is a private marina, with average | | | | into the wood. The reason we like the "Terminator" |
| parking facilities, and a good ramp. It is a pay per use | | | | jigs for this and other types of cover, is the eye is |
| facility, and charges a daily fee of $5.00. | | | | recessed into the head, preventing the jig from |
| The second area to launch is the public boat ramp on | | | | becoming snagged at least 75 % less than other jigs. |
| Sassafras Street, right before the restaurant. This is | | | | With the nasty cover in this area it is a necessity. |
| a small boat only ramp, but it is adequate for | | | | When this area starts to become pressured by other |
| launching most any bass boat at the proper tide. In | | | | anglers, we have switched to an "IKA" tube, with a 3 |
| low tide situations, this can be a tricky ramp, so | | | | 8 ounce Tungsten weight, with great success. We |
| great care should be taken during these times, as it is | | | | flip these baits to the up current side of cover and |
| extremely shallow, and has ruined many a boat prop | | | | let the tide wash the bait past the object. Most |
| and hull. The next spot you can launch is a "permit | | | | strikes come as soon as the bait washes past where |
| only" ramp located in Turner's Creek. This area has | | | | the bass are holding. Watching your line is a must her, |
| the most parking, and offers a middle of the river | | | | as the current makes most strikes difficult, if not |
| launch site. | | | | impossible to detect. The only plus side to this is that |
| When and Where To Go - Turner's Creek | | | | because if the amount of energy these bass have to |
| Although the Sassafras offers excellent fishing all | | | | expend to fight the current, they almost never miss |
| times of the year except the winter, the Early Spring | | | | the bait once they commit. Heavy line with high |
| is the best time to start. Spring on the Sassafras is | | | | abrasion qualities is a must here. |
| similar to any other body of water, in the respect | | | | The next spot is the dock where the river channel |
| that the bass's life revolves entirely around the | | | | stops and makes a sharp right turn towards the back |
| spawning process, and the locating of spawning | | | | of the creek. The best areas of the dock are the |
| areas. The Sassafras normally hold bass in almost | | | | first 3 pilings from the rocks out. Jigs, tubes, and |
| every area of the river, but at this time of year, it | | | | weighted plastics take numerous bass in the 2-5 |
| suddenly shrinks to a few, and eventually, two major | | | | pound range from here. |
| creeks. | | | | These three spots form the ultimate staging area. |
| In the early pre-spawn, largemouth can found in the | | | | More bass will move into this spot almost as fast as |
| emerging grasses and the wood cover, in locations | | | | you can catch them at times. These bass are also |
| such as Hall's Creek, Freeman, McGill, Turner, DuPont, | | | | extremely aggressive. The best tip for this area is to |
| and Lloyd's. As the spawn gets even closer, they | | | | get there early in the year. You will not only avoid |
| make their way to Turner's and Lloyd's almost | | | | the crowds, but encounter some of the larger |
| exclusively. | | | | pre-spawn females. |
| Turner's Creek offers a huge amount of diverse | | | | When the Spring is in full swing, the bass will follow |
| cover for bass. There is a narrow entrance to this | | | | the creek channel to the barges, pilings, and |
| creek where the main river channel runs right along a | | | | laydowns in the back of the creek. This is when large |
| wood laden bank with a steep drop-off. Pre-spawn | | | | numbers of 1-3 pound males make their way to the |
| bass lay along this drop at depths from 2-18 feet, all | | | | staging areas. There is a 2-3 week period when |
| of which is loaded with laydowns and emerging | | | | these bass will attack almost anything that hit's the |
| vegetation. Directly next to the entrance is a small | | | | water. This is when it is wise to hit the entrance for |
| bay loaded with lily pads and several varieties of | | | | a quick 10 pound limit, and then move back to the |
| emerging grasses, on a slow tapering bank, that | | | | sunken barge for the larger females. Weightless |
| eventually levels off into the main river channel. This | | | | Senko's, Bearpaws, and IKA tubes with a pegged |
| area at the entrance to Turner's Creek, is one of the | | | | weight, produce heavyweight females when pitched |
| 2 major staging areas for largemouth in the | | | | to the grassy edges of the barge. A quickly retrieved |
| Sassafras. The Western shoreline of this creek is | | | | spinner bait is needed at times to pick the males off |
| totally covered with what are emerging lily pad root | | | | the edges of the barge before going after the larger |
| systems, that are mixed in with several varieties of | | | | females with plastics. Laydowns will also produce as |
| vegetation, including Milfoil and Hydrilla. Many bass | | | | well as sections of the sand bar now. Slow down and |
| choose these root systems to spawn. The Eastern | | | | cover the whole area to be rewarded with a huge |
| shoreline offers a hard sand and rock bottom, along | | | | sack of bass. |
| with vegetation, that mixes in with a number of large | | | | When the spawns has run its course, just follow the |
| boat docks. The bass use the docks, and standing | | | | same creek channel back out to the same areas |
| and decaying pilings to hold on, and eventually make | | | | where the fish staged in pre-spawn. Similar to early in |
| their beds on, to escape the current and predators | | | | the year, the larger fish will be the first back out also. |
| which are prevalent in the river. | | | | This is plastics time! The fish are fairly sluggish now, |
| Lure Selections and Strategy | | | | so a little more finesse is required. They want an |
| When targeting pre-spawn bass at the entrance of | | | | easy meal, and soft plastics like these fit the bill! |
| the creek, spinner baits are our weapon of choice. | | | | As the smaller bass make their way out to the |
| Terminator spinnerbaits in the 3/8 and ½ ounce | | | | mouth of Lloyd's, you will see bas hitting the spinner |
| sizes, with tandem blades are top producers in these | | | | baits and crank baits again. While the following |
| areas. "Spotsticker" Custom spinnerbaits, along with | | | | migration routes to success can be simple, there are |
| "Tru-Tungsten's" series, and B&D lures, Evilution V | | | | a few tricks that can help you upgrade your limit. In |
| spinner bait also take their fair share of bass in this | | | | the middle of the spawn, anglers will crowd around |
| area in the spring. Color is not that important this | | | | the to spots we have mentioned. Some of these |
| time of year in the stained to muddy water, but we | | | | anglers will be targeting the shallow fish spawning, |
| have had the best success with baits that imitate the | | | | and others will be pounding the pre or post spawn |
| shad, in white/chartreuse, and in "Golden Shiner" | | | | bass at the current washed mouth of Lloyd's Creek. |
| patterns. If the water is truly "muddy", then we will | | | | At this time, we use our depth finder to locate and |
| use a darker skirt many times. | | | | follow the creek channel from the staging area back |
| When we are looking for that one particular big bite, | | | | towards the spawning area, looking for bends, |
| to upgrade our limit, the baits we use are "Senko's" | | | | humps, and even weedlines that run on the edge of |
| and "Bearpaws Handpoured Baits". These are similar | | | | the channel. Sometimes we mark fish on the locator, |
| to Senko's in size and appearance, but have a | | | | but the structure is all we are really looking for. |
| different manufacturing process which bakes in | | | | We drop the trolling motor and begin dragging a |
| scents, and are a little tougher, so they last longer | | | | Carolina rig with a 3 inch "Senko" or another type of |
| when the bass are aggressive. These baits also | | | | "Yamamoto" plastic bait or Sweet Beaver. |
| produce all sizes of bass better when a cold front | | | | The second trick we use at the very end of the |
| moves through, and causes the action to slow down. | | | | spawn here. We turn on the electronics and find the |
| When a severe cold front blows through over a few | | | | first major piece of structure large enough to hold |
| days, it will cause the bass to drop down to deeper | | | | bass and baitfish that have left the creek. The key |
| water in the 10 foot range, and hold on the tops of | | | | word is close. We stay within a ½ mile to a mile |
| trees. When this happens, we target them with mid | | | | of the major spawning area when looking for these |
| range crank baits, using a stop and go retrieve, with | | | | spots. The key spots will have grass and offer deep |
| great success. Once the bass move to the backs of | | | | water escape routes nearby. |
| the creek to spawn, "Senko's", "Bearpaws", "IKA" | | | | The Northeast, Bohemia, and Elk Rivers |
| tubes, "Sizmic" flu-go's, lizards, and Terminator jigs, | | | | The Northeast River offers one of the best flipping |
| flipped into the docks, grass, and pads, produce a | | | | bites on the bay, as well as being a 20 minute ride |
| good limit in short order. | | | | from the Sassafras. One of the better springtime |
| On the weekends in the spring, this area can be | | | | spots in this area is Furnace Bay. Many large bass are |
| crowded with many other anglers, and small to | | | | taken on buzzbaits from Furnace Bay in the early |
| midsize crank baits, such as a "Mann's" Mid-Minus, and | | | | part of the year. The Bohemia offers average fishing |
| a "Lucky Craft" series, can be a great tool in addition | | | | for bass, but is a quick shot to both the Elk and the |
| to the spinner baits and plastics. Don't hesitate to | | | | Sassafras, and is a good middle of the road launch |
| throw a buzz bait around the same cover, once the | | | | point. For the angler that has a smaller boat, who |
| water temperature warms to 55 degrees or above. | | | | can't stand the longer, more difficult ride to the |
| This can produce some real hawgs at this time of | | | | Sassafras from the Havre De Grace ramp, this is a |
| the year. We like to use a custom type clacker buzz | | | | good place to start. |
| bait made for us by "Charon" Custom Lures. We also | | | | The docks located in the Northeast and Elk are prime |
| have great success with the "Terminator" | | | | targets for the bass, as they are devoid of most of |
| Ball-Buster.The old standby, the black and blue | | | | the structure that the Sassafras offers. The bass hit |
| Terminator jig, with pork or plastic for a trailer, placed | | | | plastics and black and blue Terminator jigs here well, |
| in and around pilings, ladders on docks, and floating | | | | on both the outgoing and incoming tides. Placement is |
| piers, will always produce good sized bass. Most | | | | critical here. The jigs must not only be put into the |
| anglers use the jig when fishing docks, but switch to | | | | smallest of holes and openings, but must be |
| other baits many times in the laydowns. This can be | | | | presented multiple times before a strike occurs. |
| a mistake, as many times in the spring, we caught | | | | Practice your flipping and pitching techniques before |
| several bass in the 5 and 6 pound class, flipping the | | | | attempting these waters. |
| wood in Turner's Creek with this jig. Turner's Creek is | | | | The Susquehanna river by the railroad bridge above |
| a hot spot at all times of the year, but it is especially | | | | Havre De Grace is a hot spot for both largemouth |
| productive in the spring. An experienced angler can | | | | and smallmouth bass, and Garrett Island, in the rocks |
| expect 10-15 bass on a good day from this creek | | | | also produces at times. This area is effected by the |
| alone. Although at times, other creeks can produce | | | | amount of water that is let out of the dam up river, |
| more bass, this creek gives up he better quality bass | | | | as it can be extremely muddy when they release a |
| on a consistent basis. Our largest bass from this | | | | lot of water after heavy spring rains, and it can |
| creek was 6.4 pounds, but we have heard of 7 | | | | almost stop the smallmouth bite at times. |
| pound bass being caught on occasion. | | | | When this occurs, seeking out the clearer water |
| Lloyd's Creek | | | | offered by Swan Creek further south of the Havre |
| This is the most productive spring spot on the | | | | De Grace ramp is a good area to start. The |
| Sassafras River, and in our opinion, on the entire | | | | grassbeds and shallow wood can hold huge numbers |
| Upper Chesapeake Bay. While largemouth bass | | | | of pre-spawn and spawning bass that readily hit |
| spawn in several creeks along the river, the majority | | | | spinnerbaits, Senko's, tubes, and small crankbaits, |
| of them choose Lloyd's Creek. While there is a very | | | | such as a Strike Pro USA Oscar, and a Rapala DT6 in |
| strong current at the entrance to Lloyd's Creek, the | | | | the slightly deeper edges. We just use a heavier line |
| rest of it has very little movement. | | | | to reduce the depth of this bait in these areas. |
| The shoreline, for the most part, is very shallow in | | | | Spring fishing on these rivers, and the Sassafras in |
| Lloyd's, but offers some mid depths to 6 feet just | | | | particular, offers some unbelievable action at times. |
| off shore. The entire creek is loaded with cover. This | | | | These rivers are suited to every style of fishing. If |
| includes laydowns, logjams, and a variety of grasses, | | | | you're a flipper, it is there. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits |
| and an old barge. The barge, grasses, and seawalls in | | | | will smoke them! There's grass, docks, wood, current, |
| Lloyd's are the most productive areas. The bass love | | | | eddies, ledges, barges, and points. And all of them |
| to hold on these pieces of cover, and when | | | | hold bass! We have experienced 80 fish days in the |
| combined with the hard sand bottom and rocks, it | | | | Sassafras in the spring, and 30-40 fish days on some |
| makes for an ideal habitat for a tidal spawning | | | | of the others. |
| ground. | | | | Whether you are a tournament angler, or just a |
| Besides the ideal cover, bottom composition, and sun | | | | person who loves to catch bass, then these are the |
| exposure, Lloyd's offers something else that makes it | | | | rivers for you! |