| The state of Maryland has a river called the | | | | of the river is Freeman Creek. This can be an |
| Sassafras located in Georgetown, and connects with | | | | excellent area. Be sure to work the pads in here with |
| several other rivers, the Northeast, the Bohemia, and | | | | a Tournament Frog and a buzzbait. Many days, we |
| then to the Chesapeake bay. From Wilmington, | | | | pulled a 15 pound limit right out of here, without ever |
| Delaware, take I-95 south, until you see the Route 1 | | | | leaving. If the pads don't work, move directly across |
| exit, by the Christina mall,(exit4), follow Route 1 | | | | the creek, and flip the docks with a jig, small worm, |
| south over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal | | | | or a "Senko". Don't overlook Turner's Creek near the |
| bridge, and exit at the bottom of the bridge before | | | | beach, or the pads and grass by the point and in the |
| the toll gate. Follow route 13 south to Boyd's Corner, | | | | back. These areas have all produced bass at times in |
| and turn right on route 301 south, follow the road 3 | | | | excess of 5 pounds. Stripers are also caught in this |
| miles to the intersection of 301 and 71, Summit | | | | same area. Use your depth finder to locate the |
| Bridge Road, and turn left at the light. Follow 301 | | | | water that is from 4-6 feet deep, and move along |
| south, towards the Bay Bridge. Follow this all the way | | | | slowly, looking for the grass beds and weed edges |
| to exit 290, Chestertown-Galena exit. Turn right on | | | | along the drop-offs and bluffs. Many 4-5 pounders |
| 290, and follow it about 4 miles into the town of | | | | were caught by casting a spinnerbait, small worm, |
| Galena. Make a right at the light onto 213 north, by | | | | and a buzzbait, while staying in about 4-6 feet of |
| the Citgo gas station. Go about 2 miles down the | | | | water, and casting to the pockets of thinner |
| road, and cross the drawbridge in Georgetown, at | | | | grass.EQUIPMENTSome of the things you should |
| the Georgetown Yacht Basin marina. As soon as you | | | | have are a spinning rod in 6 to 6 1/2 foot, with a |
| cross the drawbridge, make your first left at George | | | | medium action for smaller baits, such as grubs, 4" |
| Street. Follow George Street past the Marina | | | | Senkos, and French Fry worms. I like to use 8-10 |
| towards the Granary Restaurant. The launching ramp | | | | pound test Stren line with a good quality reel like a |
| is open to the public and accommodates about 10-12 | | | | Shimano or Daiwa. You should also have a |
| vehicles with trailers. It is on the left hand side of | | | | Heavy-action baitcaster with 20-30 pound test for |
| Sassafras Street, right before the restaurant. The | | | | working the pads. These 5 and 6 pound river fish will |
| ramp is good, but shallow at low tide.Another | | | | really tie you up in here, and you need to be able to |
| launching ramp is available, but requires a Maryland | | | | muscle them out. I also like to have a good 7 foot |
| launch ramp permit, and it is hard to obtain. Most | | | | rod, such as BPS, or a Lews, or G.Loomis Cranking |
| anglers use the public ramp. There are several | | | | stick for the buzzbait.BEST TIMESThe best times to |
| marinas with gas located on the river, with a | | | | fish is a few days before, and up to a full moon, and |
| towboat service if you should ever need it. There | | | | the first hour and a half of the incoming tide, and the |
| are no-wake restrictions in the marinas, and a six mile | | | | last 2 hours of the outgoing tide are best. During |
| per hour speed limit on Saturday, Sunday, and | | | | periods of slack water, move a little off shore and |
| holidays, which are clearly marked in the | | | | work the grass flats with a small grub, and a 4" |
| channel.ESTABLISHING A PATTERNDuffy Creek is a | | | | worm, dropped into the pockets.WHEN ALL ELSE |
| good place to start first. It is by the restaurant, and | | | | FAILSThe Sassafras River can be exciting most of |
| you should quickly work the docks and wood with | | | | the time, but when it turns off, it really turns off! If |
| spinnerbaits and buzzbaits for any active fish. If this | | | | this happens, try running back towards the marina, |
| doesn't produce, then go back over the same area | | | | and head up under the drawbridge, and work all the |
| with a black and blue jig and a 4 or 5 "Senko, and | | | | fallen docks with a "Senko" rigged weightless, on 8-10 |
| cast as close to the moored boats and docks as | | | | pound test, try wacky-rigging it if it doesn't produce |
| possible, making a quiet entry with the bait. Flipping | | | | any takers the conventional way. Work all the real |
| and pitching are good techniques to know here. | | | | shallow wood in here also, with a spinnerbait |
| Work them well, but don't waste too much time | | | | presented repetitiously, from many different |
| here if they don't produce. Try to present the baits | | | | angles.Maps of the Sassafras River are available from |
| at several different angles before moving on.The | | | | "Mare's Marine" in Fredericktown, Maryland, and at |
| next move is up the river about a mile to Hall Creek. | | | | sporting goods stores and marinas in the area. You |
| Work the wood even in the very shallow areas at all | | | | can also use our MAP SERVICE right here on the |
| angles with a white/chartreuse 3/8 ounce | | | | site.Steve vonBrandt |
| "Terminator" spinnerbait or a "Rat-L-Trap". Several six | | | | Sponsored by: GYCB (Yamamoto),Okuma, Delaware |
| pound bass were caught here on these lures. Check | | | | Tackle, TTI-Blakemore, and Ambush Lures.Steve is |
| your line frequently for abrasions and nicks, as the | | | | the owner of Reeltime Anglers Guide Service in |
| cover will fray it easily. If these areas don't produce, | | | | Wilmington, Delaware, Anglers Radio in Delaware and |
| move up to McGill Creek, and work the pads in there | | | | New Jersey, Reeltimeanglers, Bass Lure Review, and |
| with a 1/2 ounce "Tournament Frog" in Black or | | | | Delaware Tackle in Delaware. He also is a tournament |
| Brown. First work them slowly, and if you don't get | | | | angler and freelance outdoor writer. He has over 40 |
| ant strikes, work them quickly through the pads | | | | years of fishing experience in the Northeast, 5 years |
| pausing only once on the way back to the boat. | | | | exp. in California. He has fished freshwater and |
| Many times this draws some reaction strikes when | | | | saltwater since 1962, and has devoted to freshwater |
| they don't hit it worked slowly.Just a short distance | | | | only since 1989. |
| up the river from McGill Creek, on the left hand side | | | | |