Maryland State Record Muskellunge

muskellunge

In March 2022, a dedicated Maryland angler set a new nontidal state record for muskellunge, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Kyle Mullenix of Hagerstown caught the 33-pound, 49-inch long record muskie on March 2 along the banks of the upper Potomac River.

Often called the "fish of ten thousand casts," muskellunge are the largest freshwater fish in Maryland and among the most difficult to catch.

Mullenix is credited with the first Maryland state fishing record of 2022. The 32-year-old lifelong angler said he has spent decades trying to catch a muskie. His record catch was made using a 7-foot spinning rod and live bait.

The catch surpassed the previous Maryland state record held also by a Washington County resident, Tessa Cosens, whose catch tipped the scales at 32.5 pounds. 

The catch was weighed on a certified scale by George Rowe of Ernst Country Market in Clear Spring and verified as a muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) by a DNR biologist. 

DNR maintains state records for sport fish in four divisions; Atlantic, Chesapeake, Nontidal and Invasive, and awards plaques to anglers who achieve record catches. Fish caught from privately-owned, fee-fishing waters are not eligible for record consideration.

Anglers reporting a potential record catch should call 443-569-1381 or 410-260-8325. The fish should be immersed in ice water to preserve its weight until it can be checked, confirmed and certified by the department.

The upper Potomac is one of the most popular areas in Maryland for muskie fishing. One of the largest rivers in the region, the Potomac River has several important recreational fisheries including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie, blue catfish, and northern snakehead.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Lake Hartwell Fish Attractors - Habitat Enhancement

In South Carolina, a significant habitat enhancement project on Lake Hartwell attracts anglers from across the region.

Largemouth Bass

In 2014, after a feasibility study and funding procurement, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) began Lake Hartwell habitat enhancement efforts.

The Lake Hartwell enhancement efforts have two main objectives:

1) provide cover for various sizes of fish; and

2) fish concentration sites for anglers.

Through 2021, SCDNR has enhanced eight areas with about 105 concrete culverts/structures, 1,300 stumps, 560 tons of broken concrete slabs, 180 tons of riprap, five tons of pea gravel, 120 PVC artificial fish attractors, 150 bamboo fish attractors, 815 trees cut/cabled from the shoreline and 1,200 maidencane plants.

Lake Hartwell is listed as a Top 100 Bass Lake in America. The lake has hosted the Bassmaster Classic three times: 2018, 2015 and 2008. The 2018 Classic, with fishing on Hartwell and weigh-ins and Expo in Greenville, set a record attendance of 143,323. It’s been topped twice since.

source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

How To Catch Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch (winter)

The yellow perch is one of the most popular freshwater fish in North America. These colorful panfish are recognized by an alternating pattern of light and dark vertical bands.

The best fishing for yellow perch usually occurs during spring spawning runs. Again in fall, fishing often improves as perch move down creeks and into deeper habitats. During the winter, yellow perch are caught by ice fishing.

Spring Spawning Runs

Anglers cite a number of fishing tips and techniques that are useful when fishing for yellow perch during springtime spawning runs:

- check local and regional fishing reports frequently

- monitor weather forecasts and water flow information before planning fishing trips

- try a variety of baits, including nightcrawlers, minnows, and other baits

- try using small circle hooks with live baits

- combine jigs with live minnows when fish are deep

- keep a selection of small jigs from 1/32 to 1/4 oz

- try bright lure colors in murky water and more natural shades in clear conditions

- keep only fish that are needed for the table and release undersized fish

Summer Fishing Techniques

During the warm months, yellow perch are usually found in cooler water. Productive areas include deep holes in river bends, channel edges, and other areas where water temperatures are likely to be low.

In some areas, stream outflows attract yellow perch in summer. Productive outflows tend to contain clear, moving water which is oxygenated. Stream outflows are found along woodland creeks, lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water.

When yellow perch are in deep areas, anglers often use jig-live minnow combinations, small soft plastic worms, jigging spoons, or other offerings.

Ice Fishing Tips - Techniques

These tips apply to ice fishing for yellow perch:

- always make safety a priority, never venture out when ice conditions are unsafe

- use small baits or lures

- experiment with multiple setups and be alert if a pattern develops

- consider scouting potential areas with an underwater video camera when water conditions are clear

Northern Pike Facts

Northern Pike | credit: USFWS

This post includes northern pike facts, fishing techniques, and other information.

The northern pike is one of the world's most popular freshwater game and sport fish.

Northern pike are found in cool freshwater lakes and rivers of  North America, Europe, and Russia.

This voracious predator is remarkably camouflaged, which makes it a highly effective hunter of fish, frogs, crayfish, small mammals, and birds.

Northern pike are often found among spatterdock (water lily), an aquatic plant found in lakes, swamps, and slow moving rivers.

Northern pike are also known as jackfish, jack, and pike.

The northern pike is the state fish of North Dakota.

Northern pike are caught with a variety of live and artificial baits, including large streamer flies.

Trolling and casting spoons, spinners, and crankbaits is one of the most popular techniques for catching pike.

New Jersey Trout Stocking - Fall 2020

Mid and late October can be an ideal time to go trout fishing in New Jersey as the state's fall stocking program coincides with cooler days, less crowded waters, and colorful fall scenery.

During the second and third weeks of October, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife undertakes its fall stocking program, which consists of stocking only two-year old trout, some of which can be 18 inches in length.

Fall stocking begins Tuesday, October 6 in 2020 and concludes on Wednesday, October 14.

All trout are raised at the division's Pequest Trout Hatchery and measure approximately 14" to 18" in length.

Trout that evade anglers during the fall could hold potential for winter fishing. A few of the large, fall stocked trout survive the winter and provide fly fishermen and other anglers with early spring catches.

The Division will be stocking 6,000 additional fish for the 2020 fall trout stocking season. These extra fish equate to each waterbody receiving roughly 25% more fish per waterbody than in a typical fall season.

Approximately 27,000 trout will be stocked over the two week stocking effort. Four additional areas will be stocked as part of the Fall 2020 program.

The 4 new waterbodies are:

• Dahnert's Lake - Bergen County
• Holmdel Park Pond - Monmouth County
• Manny's Pond - Hunterdon County
• Pohatcong Lake - Ocean County
  

All fall-stocked waters may be fished as soon as they are stocked (no "closed waters" during fall stocking). all fly fisherman

The complete list of fall-stocked waters and the stocking schedule is available at www.njfishandwildlife.com or through the Trout Stocking Hotline 609-633-6765.

Other waters offer fine trout fishing opportunities even though they are not stocked in the fall. The Holdover Trout Lakes, like Lake Aeroflex and Lake Wawayanda, provide year round trout fishing opportunities. Those waters, along with Tilcon Lake in Allamuchy Mountain State Park, are included in the landlocked salmon stocking program, now in its 13th year. All three yield harvestable size salmon (12 inches).

Two Trophy Trout Lakes, Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs, are additional trout fishing destinations. Shoreline fishing on Round Valley is particularly popular in the fall, as big rainbows cruise the shallows (See the current Freshwater Digest for special area regulations.).

Source: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife