Hello, all. My first post here and wanted to solicit advise on fishing in the winter months at the warm water discharge of the Pepco power plant in Dickerson, MD.
I've read various current and historical posts here (and other places on the internet) about how great this place is for fishing in the winter months for bass, walleye, crappie, etc. I've gone there several times now and have not caught anything but a cold and am wondering if I'm doing something wrong (wrong place on the river, wrong tactic, etc).
First, for anyone who doesn't know here's the link to the park where you can park your car:
http://www.mcparkandplanning.org/Parks/park_of_the_day/oct/parkday_oct31.shtm.
Once parked, you walk up river on the C&O canal towpath for about 15minutes then you'll see a sign on the left (river side) that tells you that you're allowed to night fish, pick up trash, etc. There's a trail from that point that takes you to where the warm water from the power meets the Potomac.
Next, here's the advise solicitation part of this post: I've read and been told by others that this is a prime place to fish from the shore in the coldest winter time as the fish gravitate towards the warm water. I've been told to use spinners, jigs, worms, etc and cast up the water water discharge and let the bait tumble down as far as possible and then retrieve (I'm not fishing for cats/carp). I have done this many times and have seen others also, but have never seen anyone catch anything but cats/carp using worms/chicken liver and dropping it to the bottom. I've fished from the lower end of the discharge as well as where it meets the Potomac but have never caught anything.
Is this place dead now or am I doing something wrong? I know fishing is hit or miss in nature (that's why it's called "fishing" and not "catching" but I've gone here so many times with no results...maybe there's some advice someone can give particular to this area?
Many thanks in advance for your advice.
On the other hand, if this place is new to you and you'd like more specific directions/instructions on how to get there, please feel free to post here or send me a PM and I will respond with further details.
Take care.
FinanceGuru
I've read various current and historical posts here (and other places on the internet) about how great this place is for fishing in the winter months for bass, walleye, crappie, etc. I've gone there several times now and have not caught anything but a cold and am wondering if I'm doing something wrong (wrong place on the river, wrong tactic, etc).
First, for anyone who doesn't know here's the link to the park where you can park your car:
http://www.mcparkandplanning.org/Parks/park_of_the_day/oct/parkday_oct31.shtm.
Once parked, you walk up river on the C&O canal towpath for about 15minutes then you'll see a sign on the left (river side) that tells you that you're allowed to night fish, pick up trash, etc. There's a trail from that point that takes you to where the warm water from the power meets the Potomac.
Next, here's the advise solicitation part of this post: I've read and been told by others that this is a prime place to fish from the shore in the coldest winter time as the fish gravitate towards the warm water. I've been told to use spinners, jigs, worms, etc and cast up the water water discharge and let the bait tumble down as far as possible and then retrieve (I'm not fishing for cats/carp). I have done this many times and have seen others also, but have never seen anyone catch anything but cats/carp using worms/chicken liver and dropping it to the bottom. I've fished from the lower end of the discharge as well as where it meets the Potomac but have never caught anything.
Is this place dead now or am I doing something wrong? I know fishing is hit or miss in nature (that's why it's called "fishing" and not "catching" but I've gone here so many times with no results...maybe there's some advice someone can give particular to this area?
Many thanks in advance for your advice.
On the other hand, if this place is new to you and you'd like more specific directions/instructions on how to get there, please feel free to post here or send me a PM and I will respond with further details.
Take care.
FinanceGuru