MDfishing.org - Potomac

Potomac trip planning

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:16:31 -0600

I was thinking of planning a trip this spring for some big Potomac smallmouth. Any suggestions to places and lures. Thanks

Potomac Smallie 11-20-11

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:47:23 -0600

I hit my usual portion of the Potomac in the jet. Air temps were very comfortable and water temps were 46-47 degrees.

I'm trying to learn where the smallies go in the fall and I tried to focus on deeper water.

I found this 14 inch smallie. He hit a beetle spin with a curly tail grub on it. I lost two other fish on a tube and a fish bit the tail of the grub off.

It started raining and getting dark, so I called it a day.

This year

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:51:33 -0600

How has this year of fishing done? What would be your best fishes this year( or so far for the musky chasers)?

Upper Potomac - 11/5/11

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 07:33:58 -0600

I met up with a guy named BigPat100 and we fished the upper Potomac on Saturday morning. Pat's boat has a 40 HP jet and it ran much faster than mine with the 20 HP engine so it was fun and CHILLY. Water temp was 48 degrees. Pat caught his healthy 12 inch smallie on a tube. I caught my 14 incher on a spinner bait with a grub on it instead of a rubber skirt. Fishing was slow, but we were both surprised to see 2 other boats fishing as well. We fished for about 3.5 hours and called it a day. Pat also caught a largemouth on an in-line spinner. I almost caught the largest fish of my life. I decided to put a crank bait on and began throwing it along the river bank as we drifted along. I thought I got snagged on something, but then my line began to move and my fully tightened down drag began stripping away. I should have loosened the drag. Pat thought I had a muskie or a big smallie. I wasn't sure. Whatever it was pulled like a horse. I eventually made some ground and got the fish to the surface after what seemed like 5 minutes. My crank bait had snagged the tail end of a HUGE carp! It was around 3 feet long and it was very broad with huge scales. The thing was a horse and probably wouldn't have fit into the net. We got it within arms reach of the boat and it made a frantic get away attempt. Then the knot on my lure slipped and the fish was gone with my crank bait still in its tail. I was using braided line and it seemed like the end of the line just sorta came undone and slipped through the palomar knot. It was a fun experience and would have make a very cool photograph. I could definitely get into carp fishing!!!!! Had a great time fishing with BigPat.

Potomac River 10/8911...A Smallie Over 12 inches!!!!!!

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 08:18:18 -0500

I took my kayak out on the Potomac Saturday afternoon. This weather is fantastic for fishing! The river was coming down from last weekend's rain and the water was pretty brown. Not much visibility at all, so I threw a beetle spin with a curly tail grub on it. I put in and paddled up river to get to some rocks and ledges. I fished up there for a while and caught this fish. It ambushed my lure from behind a rock as the current went by. It was an old looking fish and around 16.5 inches.

Is anyone hitting the Potomac this weekend (10/8-10/11)?

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:15:55 -0500

I've got a 4 day weekend and the weather is looking splendid for a change!!!!

Is anyone planning to hit the Potomac this weekend (October 7-10)?

The river looks like it's coming down from being up from last weekend's rain.

13

Potomac River may need your help once again.....please read if your user and friend of the Potomac River

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:30:49 -0500

The Potomac River is forecasted to severely flood in the upcoming week. The high water is predicted to crest at 32 ft @ the POR gauge. When this occurs it will crest the C/O canal in multiple locations. This high water event will cause many fish to be become stranded and trapped in the normally dry C/O canal. Then as the water receeds these fish become stranded and they will ultimately perish as the water slowly drains back out of the once dry canal. We are in need of a few volunteers to assist with recovery efforts through the Washington,Frederick and Montgomery County areas. This same exact event occured this spring as well as the spring prior and recovery efforts saved thousands of fish.

Taylors Landing

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:35:18 -0500

I was inspired to drive out towards Hagerstown/Sharpsburg this morning in search of smallies. I read some info in Penrod's Potomac River book and Taylors Landing sounded interesting. Water was pretty clear with an overcast sky. I fished for about 2 hours and caught 3 smallies, a big rock bass, and a sunfish the size of my outstretched hand. All fish were caught on a beetlespin with a curly tailed grub. I tried fishing tubes, but kept getting hung up terribly on the underwater rocks and ledges. The smallies were around 12 inches and fought well. One possibly bigger smallie was on, but came off half way to the kayak.

Potomac Kayak Outing - 8/13/11

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 21:39:27 -0500

I hit the Potomac this morning above Great Falls. I got to the river at 8AM and left at 11AM. Overcast skies and a couple of light rain showers. Water clarity was green/brown and really less than a foot. Nothing like mid-August the past 4 years. Air temperatures were in the 70's and water temperatures felt refreshing. Some star grass growing in the shallower spots.

No smallies on the buzzbait I was throwing, so I switched over to a tube. I decided to rig the tube on the bottom and also put a circle hook about 18 inches up the line and put on a Gulp Minnow. Caught two smallies pretty quickly on the minnow. Began fishing the minnow alone, with no takers. Switched to a tube again and eventually got one more. Largest smallie was 14 inches. The other two were around 11 or 12.

Potomac Family Outing - 7/31/11

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:57:17 -0500

I got the whole family, dog included, out on the Potomac yesterday afternoon for some fun. We strapped the kayaks to our 16 ft. jon boat and headed out to our normal launch. Water levels were very low. Water temperatures felt extremely warm and there was a huge algae bloom going on in the river. No observed aquatic vegetation, something seems off compared to my knowledge of the river the last couple of years. We headed up river towing the kids in the kayaks. Boy do I need a bigger engine. My 20hp jet wasn't cutting it and my wife agreed that a bigger engine/boat and an additional kayak would be nice. Found some willing fish and we weren't even in a prime area to do so. Documented my daughter's first two kayak smallies. Daughter Marino caught 2 smallies that were around 9 inches. Son Marino caught 3 smallies with the largest being 13 inches. We only fished for about 40 minutes so we did fine considering the high water temps and that we were in a slow pool area with little water flow. No good pictures of Son Marino's fish because he decided to go Drew Gregory and paddle off and stand up and fish in the Manta Ray. He was too far away to get any good pics using my camera.

Potomac River 7/10/11

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 07:02:45 -0500

My 13 year old son was too lazy to ride over to the Potomac with me today, so I decided to take the kayak and launch at a spot above Great Falls that I have been wanting to fish. I launched around 5:15PM and I stopped fishing at 7:30 PM after catching this nice smallie. It is probably the biggest smallie I've ever caught. It was somewhere between 16 and 17 inches. It was a beautiful fish that fought hard. It was located behind a ledge in some oxygenated water. The fish hit a teaser tube and was hooked perfectly with a circle hook. It stripped drag a few times when it got near the kayak. It had one nice jump, but mostly stayed low. Definitely a quality fish. On this trip I also saw a muskrat, bald eagle, plenty of herons, and no other kayaks until I headed back towards the launch point, but they were drifting down river from another spot.

First Potomac Smallies of 2011

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:41:52 -0500

The afternoon of 6/26/11, my son and I hit the Upper Potomac. We fished from about 3PM-7PM. Conditions started sunny, but ended cloudy. We made it up a couple of ledges without wrecking and fished mostly in the current seams and slack water behind ledges.

My son caught 5 smallies and 2 sunfish. I caught 8 smallies and 2 sunfish. All of my son's fish were caught on teaser tubes. I caught 2 smallies on a beetle spin with a grub trailer and the rest of my fish were caught on tubes. Water clarity was about a foot. Most fish were in the slack area behind ledges or near the current seams where the fast and slack water meet.

Potomac River Fish Recovery Efforts..... HELP AND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!!!!!! Please help spread the word!!!!‏

Tue, 24 May 2011 05:14:55 -0500

The Potomac River flooded last week and crested the C/O canal in multiple locations. This high water event will cause fish to be become stranded and trapped in the normally dry C/O canal....ultimately killing them as the water slowly drains back out.I am in need of a few volunteers. This same event happened last spring and recovery efforts saved thousands of fish.
We specifically need individuals who are going to be in chest high, muddy, rock infested, logjam filled water. ( paints a pretty picture doesn't it?) I need thick chest waders, no slip ( no felt) boots ,etc. Individuals should be prepared to get dirty and work very hard in and around boulders,downed trees and mud. This is very labor intensive work and in very difficult work environment.

Potomac River - Mother's Day. First River Trip of the Year.

Mon, 09 May 2011 09:43:31 -0500

For Mother's Day, my wife wanted us to ditch our mothers and instead do a fun activity with me and the kids. I was shocked when she wanted to take our boat out on the upper Potomac. It ended up being a great time, except that I bent and busted one of the side bunks on my trailer (Anyone out there who can do some welding work for me?). I was very pleased when the motor fired up on the first pull. The boat ramp had a bunch of dried mud and dirt from the recent floods this spring. I was amazed how many people were at the boat ramp doing nothing at all. Every single parking space was filled up with some sort of car that was parked with people doing nothing fishing or boating related. There wasn't even any other boat trailers at the ramp, just sedans and compact cars. I had to park my car and trailer on the other side of the canal on the side of the road.

conococheague creek?

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:24:13 -0600

Anyone ever fish this creek/river? It empties into the potomac in williamsport, md. There is some good stuff on it throughout the web. Im thinking about heading out on it saturday, if you have any advice as to what stretch of the river to fish let me know.