This seasons early warm weather has made predicting the shad and striper runs very difficult. Previous years data and reports mean almost nothing when the season starts so early and the river remains so remarkably low. Striper fishing has remained good since the second week of March but we have already seen a drop in average size. Normally this time of year we are beginning to see the bigger fish, instead, it appears the big fish have already started moving out and have been replaced with the 6-10lb class. There are still a few larger fish mixed in (see photo). Low water tends to disperse all species throughout the upper section of the tidal Potomac making it difficult to track to the schools of shad and striper. There are plenty of hickory shad in the river along with the occasional American. Some shad anglers are reporting great numbers while others are left disappointed. In these conditions it pays to move around and locate the fish rather than wait for the tide to bring them to you. Shad behavior becomes much less predictable when there is so little current.
March 31, 2016
