Any Choptank fisherman here?

[Vikeman64]

Spent most of my years fishing the western shore and want to try the choptank.  I've heard the upper end near Denton is good for largemouths?  Down to Watts creek and Tuckahoe creek?  Anyone with suggestions?

[H8R]

I've caught nice bass right next to the 404 bridge in Denton as well as the bridge going over Main Steet, next to the boat ramp. Jig fishing is the hot ticket. Be careful if fishing under the 404 bridge, it gets very shallow.

[Vikeman64]

I've caught nice bass right next to the 404 bridge in Denton as well as the bridge going over Main Steet, next to the boat ramp. Jig fishing is the hot ticket. Be careful if fishing under the 404 bridge, it gets very shallow.

Thanks for the response.  You caught anything down near Watts Creek or the Tuckahoe River?  Is it a little deeper over there?

[bigjim5589]

I've fished the Choptank several times, but not this early. Have done OK with bass up in Watts Creek, but never did well up in the Tuckahoe. There are bass in there, but the upper end gets quite shallow, and the bass I've caught are generally small, under a pound. Never really figured them out farther down river where the channel is deeper. Used to fish up in the lake some in the winter for Pickerel, and there was always some of them willing to bite. Have done good with Channel cats in the Tuck. If you're going to fish the Choptank, particularly out of Martinak, you would probably do better going up river towards Greensboro, rather than down. I've been told the bass fishing in the Choptank is not as good as it once was, but I'm not a tournament angler, and even spending a day catching panfish is fine with me. I'll break out my ultra lights or fly rod & be happy with whatever bites! I've caught some real nice size Yellow Perch in there.

And, as H8R has said, there's some really shallow places all along there, so keep that in mind. I ran up onto a mud flat one time in my jon boat & thought we would never get out of there. Later in the year, after it really warms up, I've done good with bass to 3 lbs up in some of the streams feeding into the river. I think they might move into them because the water stays cooler & there's more oxygen. Of course it would also depend on rainfall & such too as to how much water is in the streams. If you have a bigger boat, it's not the place to be, as most are narrow. I have both a Gheenoe & a jon boat, which is better for those tight, little places. 

[Chuck Tawney]

The Choptank has been off for a few years now. The DNR has tried restocking, and putting both fingerlings, and yearling fish in there, but I havent heard anything good about it. Watts is probably the best, as far as deep water, and having a chance. The gazebo always holds a fish or 2. LOL. Definitely a lot of shallow water, mud, and some laydowns. Good luck, be safe, I will stay here on the Upper Bay. LOL

[Vikeman64]

Is it pretty safe to navigate the center of the Choptank river without fear of stumps, bottoming out, etc.?

[H8R]

There's some decent bass fishing closer to Greensboro . The buzzbait bite is good if you can catch the tide in the evening in mid may, the flats light up pretty nice. Also, even more so them large mouth... Stripers come up as far as the bridge for spawning. Ive caught a handful over 40". Zara Spooks and Yozuri jerk baits are the crushers.  Also, cut bait can produce some too.

The major problem with the Chop/tuckahoe rivers are the farms and their runoff.  Tons of silt and mud bottoms.  As for white and yellow perch, the Commercial guys put a hurting on them .

[Nitroman1]

You'll be fine if you obey the channel markers. 

[H8R]

Is it pretty safe to navigate the center of the Choptank river without fear of stumps, bottoming out, etc.?

Yea, no problem at all. You will see the some drift wood floating but MOST stumps are visable in either tide. The caveat to this is If you go past the 313 bridge ..... DON'T use a gas motor! It will get hurt

[bigjim5589]

Vikeman64, almost all of the rivers & creeks on the ES that have bass in them, also have a certain amount of submerged wood, and at some point, particularly in the upper reaches, they're shallow. Use a bit of common sense, and pay attention to the channel markers that are there & you'll be fine. In those places where there are no markers, again, use your head & pay attention. If you have a bigger boat, like the glass bass boats, there are places you're going to have trouble getting into & out of depending on the tidal levels. Be aware of the tides. My boats are small, and I've got stuck a few times, but was able to get free fairly quickly. It happens. If you intend to blast through those rivers like the pro's you see on TV, you'll pay dearly for it in the end! 

[Vikeman64]

Yea, no problem at all. You will see the some drift wood floating but MOST stumps are visable in either tide. The caveat to this is If you go past the 313 bridge ..... DON'T use a gas motor! It will get hurt

So it's safe to launch in Denton, travel up towards Greensboro where the 313 bridge is located?  Without worrying about tides?  I just have an aluminum bass tracker.

[H8R]

So it's safe to launch in Denton, travel up towards Greensboro where the 313 bridge is located?  Without worrying about tides?  I just have an aluminum bass tracker.

Tides will be no problem. Just be careful to not fish the numerous cuts and small pools of water that form on an out going tide unless you wanna get stuck. Id stick with using a trolling motor once you get closer the GB. ALUMINUM boats are the way to go so just be careful. A tracker doesn't take much water, so just pay attention. The bottom is very muddy and you won't like pushing the boat out of the goop. : )