Liberty Reservoir Bass Fishing Reports

[RTWilke]

According to the recording on the Baltimore Department of Public Utilities phone, Liberty and Prettyboy are open as of today.

[BigBee]

So what in the world is happening at Liberty???  No posts for a LONG time from anyone.  This spring has been very slow for me so far.  I usually have lipped a few 4 lb smallies by now but this year ZERO.  A few big largemouths but few smallies.  Weather?  Anybody pulling anything out of Lib? 

[H8R]

So what in the world is happening at Liberty???  No posts for a LONG time from anyone.  This spring has been very slow for me so far.  I usually have lipped a few 4 lb smallies by now but this year ZERO.  A few big largemouths but few smallies.  Weather?  Anybody pulling anything out of Lib?

I've been doing pretty well at Liberty on the shore. but I havent gone since all of this rain. I landed a nice 17" smallie and some 18-19" LMB.

[RTWilke]

Yeah, I've been doing okay there, too. I've heard of some people really crushing it. Heading out this morning. I'll post when I come back.

[inNOTof]

RT, how'd you do?

We launched at 630 and fished til 630. 12 hours of fishing totaled 45 on senkos, chatterbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits. Not a single fish above the "Y". All fish came in clearest water we could find. We ventured up to SM alley but never got a bite as the water was filthy. Turned around came back down to the clear water and started smashing them again. Water temp 60.

Craziest thing....45 bass, not a single smallie or Kicker, biggest bass maybe 3lbs.

Great day on the water though. It was beautiful out there!

[BigBee]

Wow, that's weird    Same here - lots of LM - several really nice ones in the 3-4 lb range - but ZERO smallies!  Beats me???

[BigBee]

OK - nevermind - problem solved!  BIG smallies found this past weekend.  Sat morn was just killer.  Largest SM 5 lb 3 oz female!  A long 22 inch male that weighed just 3 lb +a little on the very next cast.  7 fish landed all told in about 2 hours.   A blast of a morning to fish.  Most in 6 - 10 foot of water and were crushing my favorite carolina rigged 3" tube.  They can't resist them!  Liberty smallies finally up and rockin!

[H8R]

OK - nevermind - problem solved!  BIG smallies found this past weekend.  Sat morn was just killer.  Largest SM 5 lb 3 oz female!  A long 22 inch male that weighed just 3 lb +a little on the very next cast.  7 fish landed all told in about 2 hours.   A blast of a morning to fish.  Most in 6 - 10 foot of water and were crushing my favorite carolina rigged 3" tube.  They can't resist them!  Liberty smallies finally up and rockin!

Glad to hear it BigBee! We should call you BigSmallEE!

[RTWilke]

I did okay INO, but no freakin' 45. I stayed above the Y and never had the sense to come down. Guess I'll know better next time, which will be Sunday. If we get the flood we're supposed to get tomorrow, no telling what will be going on there.

[inNOTof]

Fished Liberty yesterday 6-4. Water temp 68ish. Caught 22, biggest was a few 3lbers. Typical pattern...toss up close to the bank and deadstick a senko and they would find it. My biggest did come on a chatterbait in SM Alley. Water was dirty and the wind sucked mostly all day.

[20inchbass]

Dad and I fished today, got out late, fished 7-12:30. Caught 21 between us, 6 were smallies. The biggest of the day was this spawned-out smallie, at 18.5 inches.

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[H8R]

Dad and I fished today, got out late, fished 7-12:30. Caught 21 between us, 6 were smallies. The biggest of the day was this spawned-out smallie, at 18.5 inches.

She's a big girl, a week ago probably a football!

[BigBee]

Not sure where everyone else is finding them - but fishing from the shore they still seem to be on main lake points more consistently than anywhere else??  My biggest to date this year 5 lb 3 oz.  Most SM are around 2 pounds or so.  The vegetation is getting a little thick which is making it trickier to fish.  The fish I'm getting seem to come at first light - in 4 -6 feet of water.  Waiting for more top water action to heat up but just not there yet for me???

[BigBee]

Well - thought I would try to resurrect this thing!  Liberty has been awful quiet lately.  A few spotty LM here and there but the rain - muddy water - and hot weather has been the pits - at least for me.  Catching some good cats to occupy my time until the cool down...  Anyone having any luck on Lib???

[Reservoir Runner]

BigBee- that is a typical summer pattern for the reservoirs- they will be up shallow early and as soon as the sun hits the water, they retreat back down to deep water. As it gets closer to sunset, they will start roaming the shallows again, would be a good time to start throwing some topwaters.

[inNOTof]

Weekday Warrior Tourney was July 9th.

Top 3 had over 20lbs. 22lbs won. 8 fish.

My buddy caught over 30 keepers, 50 fish. Had his limit by 8am and just couldn't get any KICKERs.

[RTWilke]

I got about 20 out there last Sunday morning but nothing over 15". And I really didn't start catching any numbers until 11:00. I was finding them in the weeds. Of course, finding the weeds in the first place is the hard part.

[20inchbass]

Its time to bring this back up to the top. Hopefully more people talk about it this year

[BigBee]

I was guilty of being a quiet one last year - will change for 2015.  First hand intel is really important at Liberty  I think.  Haven't ventured out yet but this weekend may be the first.  These warm days are such a tease.  I'll post when I can - hopefully a good spring like the one of 2013!

[inNOTof]

I think I might be heading there this weekend too. Will post results if I go.

My buddy is out there now. Texted me he is coming home.....too cold, no bites.

[cbburke]

I am thinking of hitting this place after I drop off my GF at school on Saturday and fish until I pick her up.

Does anyone have any recommendation shore fishing spots that I should check out ..
I am thinking of hitting the one near the 32 bridge there ..

[BenFishing]

I am thinking of hitting this place after I drop off my GF at school on Saturday and fish until I pick her up.

Does anyone have any recommendation shore fishing spots that I should check out ..
I am thinking of hitting the one near the 32 bridge there ..

Oakland Road, on the west side of the lake.  You can fish off both sides of that peninsula, and off the south side, I have found some good largemouth and yellow perch.

Hiking around 32, I found some ok crappie spots, around this time, last year.

Fishing under the bridge at Nicodemus/Deer Park, I've been able to find some good largemouth...standing under it, on the west side, mostly.  There is a slow slope, then a ledge.  I usually run crank baits through there....if you throw a bottom bait, it will probably get snagged in all the line the people on the bridge lose.
On the east side of the bridge, that little cove hasn't done me any good until the weather gets warmer....same with the trail on the other side....lots of shallow water areas.

The boat ramp area has a lot of shoreline to fish.....I've hiked a lot of it, and found white perch and largemouth.

All of the areas I know for smallies have me going through private property, and I've asked the land owners if it is ok if I cross through their land....most say no, but I have a few that have said it is ok...usually the people wither bigger plots of land, like farms.

[cbburke]

Man - Thanks for the detail information on this

[BigBee]

I really like the area around 32.  I have caught some great smallies thee over the years - the Eldersburg side away from the Irving Ruby cove.  Slow drag a tube or soft plastic.  This sun should get them up on some points and flats.  I think the high water will pose some problems unfort.   

[BigBee]

Wow - another long stretch with no Liberty updates?!?  My excuse - been tough this Spring!  My daughter actually hit one big smallie a few weeks back in the mid-3 pound range - but mostly small fish other than that.  The lake heated up really fast - bummer!  I was able to get out the other day and score on a ton of fish - using small soft plastics mainly - most of them 1-2 pound LM's - including my personal best 6.5 lb LM and a 16" crappie.  Fish are active right now - pattern is difficult to find though.  Most fish in the 4-10 foot area - mostly around timber.