Piney Run Reservoir Crappie - A diamond in the Rough
I have spent the past 3 Saturdays fishing Piney Run Reservoir in Carol County, MD and have caught over 30 keeper crappie (9 - 11 inches) each time I went out (throwing back an additional 20 or so each time that were a little smaller and I was too lazy to clean). I usually caught these within 2-3 hours spent fishing. I read previous posts where people never catch any crappie there. Let me tell you, they are there...you just need to know how and where to fish for them! This is my first year out here freshwater fishing in Maryland and fishing this reservoir in particular. All ever I see out here are bass fishermen working the shoreline, picking up a few debatable bass. I've only seen one person pull out a respectable fish...I have to laugh to myself because for the most part, they are missing some fabulous pan fish action! I have been going out to Piney Run almost every Saturday since about mid-June and ALWAYS catch a fish basket full of nice crappies and bluegills! In addition, on three or four occasions I have also caught some monster yellow perch there (12-14")...When you hook one, its like hooking a walleye!
This weekend is supposed to be beautiful and I plan on going there both Sat. and Sun. I can't wait to go out and catch a bunch of slabbers! By the way, if you're thinking about going out to Piney Run, it's not worth fishing off the piers (unless you want to catch a bunch of little bluegills). You really need a boat (which they rent for $8/Hr or $30/for the day, and if you have a trolling motor, better yet, you can save on the rowing bit).
The Crappie King
Responses and Piney Run Crappie Report 10/10/11
Thanks, Mike.
Nick, there's a boat launch there where you can launch your own boat (for a fee - I think it's around $10). Or, you can rent a boat (they have jon boats that are pretty roomy or semi-vs) for $8.00/Hr or $30.00/day. Also, there's a $10/day park entry fee (if you're not from Carol County). They do have a season's pass for $55 if you're outside of Carol County. Use of gas motors is not allowed, only trolling motors. I myself rent a boat when I go there and bought the "poor man's" rig (Got a Minnkota 30 Lb. thrust trolling motor for $90, a deep cell marine battery for about $100 and a Minnkota battery charger for $35...got the trolling motor and battery charger on Amazon, where they were the cheapest). Also, I picked up a light-weight claw anchor from Bass Proshop for about $14 (It weighs about 5 Lbs.) and is easier to manage than the heavy anchors and holds just as well.
Now for the fishing report from this past weekend. I went out to Piney Run both Sat. and Sunday. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the crappie was right on both days! This was the best weekend I have ever had there fishing for crappie (and it rivals some of the best fishing I've ever had). On Saturday, I caught 60 keepers (yes, 60!...nothing under 9" and quite a few in the 11-12" range) and threw back probably about 20 that were a little smaller. I currently have so much fish in my freezer, that I didn't want to clean anymore, so I gave about 20 of the biggest ones to a family that was catching a few little bluegill and let the rest go. THEN on Saturday, I caught another 50 (again, I kept only those that were 9" and larger). Again, there was a father with his young daughter and son and they were fishing and not having a whole lot of luck, so I gave them my morning catch (which was about 25 fish)...after they left, I fished for a couple more hours and filled my fish basket up again! This time I gave my fish to a Russian couple that I had seen out there a few times previously. (I kept 6 big ones, filleted them when I got home and had them for dinner).
Here's what I did to catch them. After fishing the reservoir for a few weeks, I had a general idea where the crappies were (I'd catch a few here and there). These past several weeks, I have changed my strategy, however. I have continued to go to these same spots, troll with my electric trolling motor at a slow speed using a yellow 16th oz rooster tail tipped with a GRASS SHRIMP until I either got a fish or several bites. Then, I'd anchor and use a slip bobber (or a stick bobber would work) set at about 3-4', with a small split-shot weight (about 6" from the hook) and a #8 gold hook, and add a grass shrimp to that. I would start throwing this rig out near where I got the strikes or the fish and then started hauling fish in one after another!
This was a great time!
