Eastern Shore Mill Ponds

Type: Nontidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Eastern Shore mill ponds

On 12/27/19 I stopped and picked up a half pint of minnows at Anglers Sports Center on the way over to fish Smithville Lake. Launching my kayak around 8:45 am, I headed straight back towards the dam. I opted to do so thinking the transition point between the rock/concrete bottom and weeds, along with the moving water would attract bigger fish. I rigged up a minnow and let it alone while casting a Rat-L-Trap. I ended up catching my first fish on the hard bait, a bass. I moved my minnow near where I caught the fish and immediately caught another, a 20 1/2� bass. I worked the area a while longer but only caught one additional fish, a 24 1/2� pickerel. After moving towards the central area of the lake, I caught another bass. While working my way back towards the dock I saw no action so I left the lake and headed towards Tuckahoe State Park around 1:30 pm

Once I reached Tuckahoe I fished the 60 acre lake, I believe it�s known as Geary Millpond. (I simply call it Tuckahoe.) When I arrived there the pond had skim ice covering a portion of the lake, but it didn�t block my access to the lake. I worked my way to the northern end of the lake and caught one small pickerel on a minnow. At the north end the lake narrows down between two points. It always holds fish because of the water funneling through. Depending on the way the wind blows I�ll fish with the wind towards me, I cast into the wind and retrieve my bait into the direction the fish are facing. I caught five bass, one on a minnow the others on a 1/4oz jig dressed with a 4�paddle tail before I moved on looking for my target fish, pickerel.

I caught three additional pickerel on minnows and in or on the outer edge of old lily pads, the largest of them beiung not quite 20� long. I rounded out my day with six largemouth bass and five pickerel. While at Tuckahoe I met Chris and his uncle. They were bank fishing with minnows, catching bass and pickerel while we spoke. A few photos of Chris with some of his catches are included. Another great day on the water.

For more information about kayaking and canoeing in Maryland, visit our Kayak and Canoe Fishing page.