Fishing Near Conowingo Dam: Catfish Aplenty, Bass MIA

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — Flathead catfish are in abundance near the Conowingo Dam, where they prefer the current in the turbine wash and below the dam pool in the Susquehanna River, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said in its latest fishing report.

Blue, channel and flathead catfish are aplenty in the upper Chesapeake Bay, officials said.

To take advantage of the flathead catfish, authorities advise using the freshest cut or live bait — in particular, white perch, white suckers or bluegill sunfish.

To get the blue and channel catfish in the lower Susquehanna River and surrounding tidal rivers down to the Bay Bridge, anglers are advised to use cut bait, chicken liver, clam snouts and other types of bait.

On the other hand, striped bass are "slim pickings," the department reported on Wednesday, with most of them further down the Chesapeake Bay.

Those chumming for striped bass "often find blue and channel catfish waiting in line for any cut bait drifting down a chum slick," natural resources officials said. "The catfish also have a habit of snacking on spot and small eels that anglers are using to target striped bass."

Read the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' June 29 fishing report.