I recently moved to north Bethesda and I am a avid bass angler I am 14 and can’t drive and I can’t find anywhere with bass. If you know of any ponds or rivers in the area please let me know, I am also looking into fishing swaines lock and the Potomac river portion in cabin John, anyone have any knowledge on this? Thank you very much, tight lines!

I'm in Potomac, MD and here are a summary of my local spots.

 

* Lake Needwood, Derwood, MD: Highly pressured body of water, go early in the morning for the best bite. Lots of bank access along the main path near the boathouse, but all highly pressured. I have the most success walking toward the south dam rip rap, and then up and along the tree-lined bank which has less access points, but better structure. This lake used to be a forest and there are a lot of old tree stumps in the water. Topwater, or weedless/lightwire hooks will save you money.

* Lake Whetstone, Montgomery Village, MD: Also very highly pressured because it's smack in the middle of a highly populated residential zone. But, there are some really good size bass in here that are willing to eat. The water to the right of the boathouse is shallow, farther left of the boathouse toward the dam is deeper. Success using chatterbaits, jigs, and plastics swimbaits. Lots of carp in here too. If I have to fish in the middle of the day, I find the most success here.

* C&O Canal, Widewater: Lots of bank access with steep drop offs. Fish it early before the crowds and while the sun is below the tree-line. Lots of structure for jigs. You can even put in a kayak and explore the far side which looks amazing for bass habitat.

* Cabin John Creek: Park at Locust Grove Nature Center and go behind it, where you can find access to the creek. Lots of deep pools that hold small trout, chubs, and LMB. Great for wading up and down the creek with UL tackle.

* Clopper Lake: I find this body of water really tough unless you have a kayak or pond prowler, but I've had some success fishing early or really late by the boat house.

* Gunners Lake: Good access from Wisteria and a path that goes around the whole lake. The problem is right now that there's so much algae that really the only type of fishing is punching. I wouldn't go here until later in the fall.

* Little Seneca Lake: I've only recently started to boat here, but I see people bank fishing here all the time. Google Hoyles Mill Trail for a good parking spot and trail that takes you down to a less pressured area of the lake for bank fishing.

* Ponds at Olney Manor Park: There are two ponds behind the baseball fields, the one closest to the parking lot has more dink bass. Lots of algae in the summer, but there are enough holes that you can throw some weightless flukes or stickbaits to get some bites. Bring lots of bug spray for this pond though.

 

Good luck!

Sadly the canal by Swains is dead this year, they have the water so low, it’s just a muddy ditch.  

 

There are bass still in there but you have to hike a few miles to find deep water and it’s real crappy to fish there now. 

 

Good news is that, atleast on the east side of the beltway, I think every pond and stream I have tried has produced bass, even if they are tiny. Use google earth to find water you can walk to and give it a try.