1st Snakehead Catch

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Gunpowder River

On Saturday, August 1st I had to run an errand near Baltimore Beltway Exit 29. From there it was a five minute drive up Cromwell Bridge Road to where the Gunpowder River starts flowing once again downstream from Loch Raven's second dam. Not having fished there in years I challenged myself to walk the shoreline hopefully casting for a sluggish bass or pickerel amid the overgrowth of submerged foliage.

After two hours and a quarter mile of skunkdom, I suddenly saw a long thin dark shadow cruising a tiny pocket of weedless water. By the time I reeled up I lost sight of him, but I cast to his general direction. Three casts later I got "The Strike". He hit a Fat-A floating perch crankbait. What a surprise to catch, not a pickerel, but my very first snakehead! (I had no idea one would be this far upriver from the bay.) Not very big, but when you can add ANYTHING to your lifetime species list, it's always exciting!