For those on the water the winter is a great time to jig or bait fish the Bay Bridge pilings for nice sized schools of perch.
Maryland’s Winter Fishing Forecast
January – March 2015
The New Year means it’s time to start planning out the upcoming seasons. During these first winter months there are some great fisheries to take advantage of before the spring seasons hit. So without further delay, here is your updated winter fishing forecast.
Pickerel
January through March mark the prime season to target these creek runners. Look to fish your local creeks/rivers around structure such as docks, fallen trees, or any other structure that looks like it will hold fish. Pickerel are generally slow to attack in the colder months making a slow retrieved minnow, spoon, or spinner your best bet. My go-to lure in the winter is a #13 Gold Tony spoon rigged with a minnow using a slow retrieve with light jigging action off the tip of the rod.
Perch
The Yellow/White Perch spawning run generally begins sometime between mid-February and early March depending on water temperatures. The Yellow Perch will generally start running before White Perch making the targeted season fairly long. You can find these guys swimming upstream to the ends of your local creeks and rivers… usually fishable by land in short water.
Locally the go-to hot spots are Beachwood Park, Hillsboro Ramp, Greensboro Park, Red Bridges, and Wye Mills. Look to fish grass shrimp, Minnows, or worms off of shad darts, small spoons, or bottom rigs. (HINT: Try to plan your trip around moving tides, you will have a hard time picking up good numbers of perch in dead water. For those on the water the winter is also a great time to jig or bait fish the Bay Bridge pilings for nice sized schools of perch.)
Tight Lines,
Eel
Show Us What You Caught!
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