Tag Archives: Dr Snakehead

Slow Snakehead Fishing Season

Snakehead Fishing is Definitely Slower This Year Than Last Year

9.5 lb snakehead, 32"
9.52 lbs. 32″ bit a yellow top water paddle foot frog mid July 2017.

I’ve been out on the Potomac River backwaters for two months now and the bites are there but not near as many as last year and you have to go deeper into the pads to find them.   Landing them seems tougher too, I’ve pulled back to set the hook on my top-water frogs, I feel the “bite”, the line goes tight, I count to “2” and then the next yank and he’s gone!  No snakehead.    Then the classic snakehead move, dive, dive, dives into the weeds and wraps your line on plant roots and he shakes free.  I have seen then as I kayak or cruise in my Grizzly flat bottom.  “Damm that was a nice one wish I thrown my lure before I came this way in the boat!”  But many days so far seeing them is all I got to do.  Some days missing a few nice ones was all I got to do.  But finally on a Tuesday mid July I got two into the boat.   But my question is, “Have they gotten smarter as time has gone by?” I see big ones 3 footers cruising when I’m on the water but no biters….who knows.

Bow Fishing is Hurting the Rod and Reel Fisherman

I have friends that live on the water in Potomac Creek and see fishing boats almost every night since May!  At least 5 nights a week the “UFO’s”, the over lighted bow fishing boats are scanning the banks till midnight or later some nights.  They are definitely taking out a lot of fish and it is finally taking it’s toll, you just don’t see them basking as often when you kayak and finding fish to bite is much tougher this year.  I have noticed a steady decline in their numbers for 4 years now.  The Wildlife studies also showed no increase in snakehead population on the Potomac last year for the first time in 10 years.  Good for those that don’t like snakeheads but bad for those of us that chase them with rod and reel.  The days of landing 10 or more fish in a day and missing another 20 are gone for now as far as I can see.  I have spoken with a few other snakehead addicts
like me and they all say the same thing.  Lower bites, and landed fish on the Rhappahanock, Potomac and Maryland waterways too.  Is it all the bow fishing pressure or a natural thing- who knows?  But  Bass fishing is the same catching nice largemouth in the mornings usually and now in the hot summer they have slowed up .  But of course they are not a legal bow fishing species so bow and arrow guys are not impacting them.

Overall a slow Snakehead season for me….

snakehead fishing on the Potomac River in July 2017
9.5, 32″ and a 22″ 2.5 lb snakehead Potomac Creek, VA.

Snakehead Fishing is Picking Up!

Ah the Snakeheads are Still There!

Well another day on Potomac Creek and I found a few fish. The days are hot now and the fish are active.  Still casting to the banks by any vegitation, lillies and grass seem the best. The weed flats are slow as the fish seem to be underneath and aren’t coming up to grab the top water stuff (the only thing you can fish in the thick weed flats, drop shotting hasn’t worked for me).

This average 5 pounder was right at the bank mid day and very hot 92 degrees. He was sitting inbetween the thick weed matts that the low tide was exposing when he slammed my  white “Floatin’ Toad” straightened the hook a bit too!

Potomac Creek pretty far back
Potomac Creek back way back up in the small part of the channel

The nicest one of the day was this 8 pound female that also killed my “Floatin’ Toad’, green/silver pattern in the morning.  She also almost go off by straightening the hook!

Nice 8lb female Snakehead
Nice 8lb female Snakehead

 

Here was real nice largemouth right at dusk in the main channel of the creek, about 5 lbs. It was real wild hard to hold and snap a photo with my phone so this was all I could get.  Wiggled right out of my grip when I was holding it up for a nice classic pic and went back into the river!  So you just get my foot(size 12) and the fish, so you can get an idea of the fishes size! LOL!

5lb. Largemouth on a White Floatin Toad top water
5lb. Largemouth on a White Floatin Toad top water

Well see ya’ll next time on the water.  Share your bass and snakehead fishing stories, tactics and locations(if you don’t mind that is..)  We’d love to learn from you too.

 

Dr. D (Dr. Snakehead) signing off till next time!

 

Check out my radio show on nutrition and chiropractic, www.DrDSays.net

Maryland Snakehead Tournament May 30th

Okay time to fish for Snakeheads

7lbs. Potamac Creek, 8 pm on a white Ribbetts Floatin Toad
May 5, 2015 – 7lbs. Potamac Creek, 8 pm on a white Ribbetts Floatin Toad

Let’s go fishin’ and maybe win $1,500.00 prize money!  Well Maryland Wildlife is holding their anual Snakehead Fishing Tournament May 30, 2015 6 pm to May 31, 2015 12:30 pm.  No age restrictions just have your Maryland, Virginia, or DC fishing license and you’re set!

Read more here  and don’t forget to post your catch totals here afterwards!

 

See ya’ on the Potomac next weekend!

 

Dr D, Snakehead Hunter