Skip to content
Reel Chesapeake
  • Adventures
  • Reports
  • News
  • Events
  • Charters
  • Striped Bass
  • Resources
  • Tactics
  • About Us
  • Toggle website search
MENU Close

Tactics

Read more about the article Target Species During Striper Shutdown
This perch hit a grass shrimp baited on a tiny hook and lowered below a shallow pier.

Target Species During Striper Shutdown

  • Post published:July 16, 2025
  • Post category:Features/Tactics

Maryland DNR shuts down striped bass fishing in the Bay and all tribs 7/16 to 7/31; here's what species we're targeting during these next two weeks

Continue ReadingTarget Species During Striper Shutdown
Read more about the article Blue Crabs 101

Blue Crabs 101

  • Post published:July 15, 2025
  • Post category:Features/Tactics

Recreational crabbing is a summer pastime in the Chesapeake region beloved for generations; let’s learn crab biology, ecology, and how to catch, cook, and eat these beautiful swimmers!

Continue ReadingBlue Crabs 101
Read more about the article Winter Perch ‘N Pickerel Archives

Winter Perch ‘N Pickerel Archives

  • Post published:December 18, 2024
  • Post category:Tactics

We've covered a lot of water fishing for the two species; read our reports from past seasons for tips, techniques, must-have lures, and locations!

Continue ReadingWinter Perch ‘N Pickerel Archives
Read more about the article Striped Bass Topwater Fiesta

Striped Bass Topwater Fiesta

  • Post published:July 5, 2024
  • Post category:Reports/Tactics

A new moon, plus a favorable tide, temperatures, and cloud cover create the recipe for great fishing at dawn!

Continue ReadingStriped Bass Topwater Fiesta
Read more about the article The Invasive Blue Catfish of the Chesapeake Bay

The Invasive Blue Catfish of the Chesapeake Bay

  • Post published:June 19, 2024
  • Post category:Features/Tactics

Introduced to the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s, blue catfish have exploded throughout the watershed, concerning biologists but exciting anglers

Continue ReadingThe Invasive Blue Catfish of the Chesapeake Bay
Read more about the article Spring Shad Runs Starting Early

Spring Shad Runs Starting Early

  • Post published:April 3, 2024
  • Post category:Reports/Tactics

The reports are in...early! Hickory and American shad are showing up weeks ahead of schedule in the Potomac, Patuxent, and throughout the Bay watershed

Continue ReadingSpring Shad Runs Starting Early
Read more about the article Perch ‘n Pickerel!

Perch ‘n Pickerel!

  • Post published:December 16, 2022
  • Post category:Reports/Tactics

As Christmas approaches, winter patterns for cold-weather species heat up in the middle Chesapeake region

Continue ReadingPerch ‘n Pickerel!
Read more about the article Fish in a Barrel

Fish in a Barrel

  • Post published:September 9, 2022
  • Post category:Reports/Tactics

Tried and true tactics catch a mess of freshwater panfish at the local reservoir

Continue ReadingFish in a Barrel
Read more about the article The Spring Shad Run

The Spring Shad Run

  • Post published:April 29, 2022
  • Post category:Reports/Tactics

Locations, tackle, and techniques for catching the very exciting "poor man's tarpon"

Continue ReadingThe Spring Shad Run
  • 1
  • 2
  • Go to the next page

Upcoming Events

Sep 20
September 20 @ 10:00 am - September 21 @ 10:00 pm

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival

Sep 25
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The Taste (Maryland) – Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Fundraiser

Sep 26
September 26 @ 6:00 am - September 28 @ 5:00 pm

7th Annual Tangier Classic

Sep 27
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Rock the Reef Bash

Sep 30
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Angler’s Night Out – School of Rockfish

View Calendar

reelchesapeake

😎 James Houck’s fishin’ handle
🎣 Angling, adventure & conservation!
📍 Severn River, Maryland
📸 ©️Reel Chesapeake | News on @

Took a mental health day and fished Tuckahoe lake/ Took a mental health day and fished Tuckahoe lake/creek yesterday in the jon boat. Gorgeous weather and a couple willing, small bass (wacky rigged yum dinger). Very cool area to explore. Lots of small sunnies hanging around. Originally started at Unicorn Lake but it was even more choked than my July recon. Sheesh…something is going on in that one, which is a shame. @marylanddnr can anything be done?

#largemouthbassfishing #bassin #letsgofishing #anglersparadise #tuckahoestatepark
Dude, where’s my fish? While reliable small scho Dude, where’s my fish? While reliable small schools of stripers roam the Ptap/Key area, or Poplar, or lower Potomac, anglers also eagerly search for them in the rivers. But the fish are few and far between. It’s been an “off” year. Its not a coincidence we’re seeing the effect of multiple years of poor spawning classes, poor angling in rivers, and, recently, the ASMFC proposing widespread reductions to the 2026 rec and commercial striper fisheries. 

I spent a morning in a very simple kayak setup hitting my “reliable” creek spots for perch but not finding them either. Just one baby striper. The entire Severn has been awful this summer. I hope we see it turn over this month and into fall. The water is starting to look better and it’s still pretty out there. Fingers crossed 🤞

#stripedbass #toughbite #kayakfishing #fishfinder #chesapeakebay
Trolly Line #9 Trail in Ellicott City is an easy ‘n cool little hike—about 2.5m round hike. Nice cut-through w/ boardwalk, a couple tiny falls/pools, and great tree canopy. We checked it out yesterday, then dipped into town for ice cream and window shopping. 

#ellicottcitymd #takeahike #hiking #walking #downtown
Boy and I fished a good chunk of the Severn this v Boy and I fished a good chunk of the Severn this very early a.m. and managed some perch on Kastmasters. Didn’t find any schoolies on topwater or jigging for that matter. Wind worked directly against the tide which made things a little wonky, otherwise conditions were quite pleasant. But reports are suggesting schoolie stripers are beginning to spread upwards of Round Bay. Wish I found em lol!

#stripedbassfishing #whiteperchfishing #cantalwaysgetwhatyouwant #familyfishing #fatherandson #hookedup #severnriver #allsmiles #reelchesapeake
The boy wanted a kayak for his birthday, so we got The boy wanted a kayak for his birthday, so we got the boy a kayak. He’s a natural. Can’t wait to share these adventures with him. This was his maiden voyage w/ mom last evening on our home creek. All smiles, no flips… 😎🤙

#marylandkayaking #creekin #paddlepro #severnriver #havinagoodtime #fishing #downbytheriver
Follow on Instagram

We Cover

American Shad Annapolis Blue Catfish Blue Crabs Bluefish Boat Show Brown Trout Chesapeake Bay Conservation Crappie Eastern Shore Environment Festival Fishing Expo Fly Fishing Hickory Shad Largemouth Bass Maryland Northern Snakehead Oysters Patuxent River Pickerel Rainbow Trout Red Drum Severn River Smallmouth Bass Spanish Mackerel Speckled Trout Striped Bass Topwater Tournament Trout Virginia White Perch Yellow Perch

Topics by Month

Popular

  • Topwater Stripers
  • Charter Fishing 101
  • Summer Camping Essentials
  • Local Angling Groups
  • Angling / Conservation News
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Threads
© 2025 Reel Chesapeake
Close Menu