Unicorn Lake Fishing

Type: Nontidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Unicorn Lake

On Wednesday, Dec 5 I loaded up my kayak and went over to Unicorn Lake in Queen Anne�s County for some pickerel fishing. I fished a 1/4 oz swim bait with a slow steady retrieve. I caught four pickerel and one yellow perch. It was a very cold day, ice formed on my fishing rod guides during the four hour outing.

Caution should be taken while on the water during this time of year in a small boat. Hypothermia from a spill off a kayak or too much time in the open on the water can be fatal as the temps continue to drop.

A little information about Unicorn Lake: It is a 43 acre impoundment and I have to say it�s fairly shallow (average of 4 feet, I believe) with the exception of the area near the spillway. I spent a good portion of the time clearing hydrilla off my lures. The hydrilla made it so I had to start the retrieve as soon as the lure hit the water. But, that said, I caught fish all around the lake. The entire lake is consistently shallow everywhere with the exception of areas with lily pads which are shallower and the spillway area.

There may be big fish in and around the pads. If I had brought top water baits I may have had some luck. I did disrupt some fish in the pads and could see the pads moving as the fish swam away.

I talked with one of the department's employees and he said that they occasionally do surveys of the lake's fish and their health. He said during a recent electroshock survey they brought up a 7lb pickerel near the fishing pier/dock area. So, there are big fish in the lake.