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conowingo dam

Question 
15K views 28 replies 19 participants last post by  Jerkbait-PA 
#1 ·
I am interested in running my boat up to the conowingo dam and I was wondering how deep the water is and any spots in the river I need to watch out for. I will be running up from Perryville, I have a chart on my phone but it doesn't go up to the dam. Also what are my chances in catching any rock fish under the dam?
 
#2 ·
They will not allow boats all the way up to the pool below the dam for safety and security reasons. They have sirens and lights that activate prior to when water is released from the dam. Venturing up river past Tomes Marina in Port Deposit should only be done in a jet drive and then you still need to use extreme caution. The river area above Port Deposit is very rocky and just loves destroying fiberglass boats and lower unit's. I have an aluminium bass boat and I will not go far above Tomes on my gas engine. Best way to fish up past Tomes is in a kayak.
 
#3 ·
If you have never done it, don't even think about trying it alone. Find someone familiar with the river and take it from there. This is not the place to do it yourself. It's easier to do when they are running a lot of water, but even then, you need to be extremely careful.
 
#5 ·
The person on the front of the boat might what to wear a helmet so he doesn't get so may knots on his head. Got to watch fishing there alot of people have drowned on that section. Picked up 2 out of 3 people there myself when they got swept away by the current of the dam!!!!(they were fortunate to be alive)
 
#6 ·
Not a place to go in your own boat without extensive prior experience in those waters. Charts won't show water depth in the area below the dam because it varies widely depending on how much water has been released over/through the dam. AND water levels can drop or rise quickly. Getting up there is one matter, spotting rocks and being able to take evasive action when going with the current is an even greater challenge. Plus they have lights and alarms that go off when they're going to open the gates, but no alarms when they shut them off. This means that if you get up there and the water level drops, you may not be able to get out via the same route you got in. Also consider the fact that a jet drive requires a fair amount of throttle to elicit a rapid steering response so running WITH the current can provide some real pucker moments when trying to steer around the rocks. Earl Ashenfelder was one of the earliest, if not the earliest folks to guide up there. Welded a pitch fork to the front of his lower unit to help protect the prop.
 
#8 ·
Leave your boat home. Drive your car up to the base of the dam and take your waders. Take a small rod and a surf rod. You'll want some inline trolling sinkers and jigs/plastics of choice, some shallow swimming plugs, rattle trap or two, few small spoons. You can catch Rock, LGM, SM, WP, Walleye, Red eye, Flatheads, Channels and maybe even a Muskie. However you can launch small boats up there, Kayaks and Canoes by hand. When you could fish above the Island we used to take a 10 alum up there all the time. Pay attention to the lights and sirens. 3 mins after the second warning they let the water go and its rises fast. Or they could cut it down and leave ya high and dry w/ no warning. Call the hotline and know the schedule before ya go. 888-457-4076
 
#10 ·
It’s doable if you have the right boat. I have been up many times in a small plastic boat. A jon boat will make it too but you will hit rocks on the way back down if you don’t have a great memory for where the rocks are. My buddy bought a jet this year. We will start going up in it in a week or two.

Jerkbait-PA
 
#14 ·
I MIGHT take an airboat up there.. nahh.. better off with a kayak... nahh, better off standing on shore. Big rocks, 4" under the surface, and lots and lots of 'em. And they actually move under the water to different spots when you ain't looking, so they can keep their kill tally up. Seriously, motoring upstream is easy, you can "hover" in the current if you want... it's that nebulous lack of control avoiding the rocks, errr, boulders when flowing with the current. back downstream. Pucker moments, indeed.
 
#15 ·
Jet drives do not take all of the risk out of running rocks in shallow water. Besides hull concerns, your intake grill hangs down lower than your hull unless the hull has a "tunnel". It's well over $500 to have one of those things replaced when a rock splits it open, and you get to push the boat back downstream. And the worst moment you may experience running with the current is not the pucker moment before the near misses, it's the post pucker moment when didn't get the near miss you were praying for. And, trust me, there ain't no (sober) atheists running downstream out there.
 
#17 ·
I/ve been up many times and I still hit once in awhile. You need a jet boat and don/y try flying the first time you go up. Take your time and be observent. When the water is high, 3 large and 5 small turbins running you can get arround pretty good almost everwhere but when they shut down some, is when the trouble starts.Make sure they are running at least 4 small and 1 large turbin before you go.I/v done it with 3 small already but paid the price , many hit rocks especially comming down after the water is cut back.from the old bridge piers to the pool is probably the worst area to get thru and then up at the hog back is another bad area.Get a map that is printed to learn the names of the areas we talk about. Above all be careful. AL
 
#21 ·
I know that boat style, did you build it or buy it? I have only spotted a boat like that once this year early.It was tied up on the little landing above Lapidum.I noticed not as many guys troll up river anymore.Im thinking its a dieing art.I tried to buy a boat like that from an old timer in Pville but he wouldnt part with it.Those wooden boats take those rock hits much better than tin.A guy I used to fish with made a different style(than yours) wood boat every few years and leave em chained to a tree on the bank over by the VFW.Most times I would pass by em and they would be up side down in the river wigglin around in the current.He would go a few days prior flip em over let em dry out and then put a forked motor on and go fishing.I was amazed at how well they held up.He told me it cost about $300 to make.Now a days he has two fancy rigs and you wont see him above the bridge piers.
 
#24 ·
I've been fishing there 25 years. An old flat bottom wooden boat with no keel is the best rig. Second best is a flat bottom alum. which is what I use. No place for fiberglass. Check the water schedule beforehand. But DON'T reley on that because it is subject to change. Don't even think about unless they are running at least one large unit. Getting up there without experience will require at least 3 large units. Go slow. No planing even if it looks ok to. Have the guy on the bow keep a look out. Many rocks are just inches below the surface. You need lower unit and prop protection with a pitchfork. If you plan on going to the dam don't think you'll get there in 20 minutes it takes awhile. If going solo wear your life jacket. I've been there when a boat capsized and a helicopter was trying to find the people. Sadly one guy drowned and the other rescued. There is many good holes before you get to the dam. Take your time and go slow.
 
#26 ·
Looks like the boat Earl Ashenfelter use to use. They are nice to get arround but my jet gets in and out with out hitting rocks most of the time. I/ve been running jets since 1966 and I would never go back to regular motor. Especially if running the susky.I used that setup with the fork on the lower unit a long time also.What ever works. AL
 
#27 ·
Im with Al, Ill never go back to a prop. A jet does what a jet does but also goes everwhere else. There are a few drawbacks, grass will clog the intake, noise, got to be on the gas to steer, mine gets bad gas mileage and they aint as efficient.

BTW, hi Al. Hope your having a good summer. Put the golf clubs away and get on the water.
 
#29 ·
1990Tracker, Keeper stripers are around. It is true that they can be easier to nail down at the dam but they are in the lower river, flats and all the way down to the ocean. The problem with the river is when the sun comes up the stripers are gone. They can’t close their eyes so they go deep or run for cover.

Jerkbait-PA
 
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