(1) Greetings BR members! I've been looking to get after some smallies this summer on the Upper Potomac. I've had success at Riverbend Park and Goose Creek in years past, but I'm looking for spots that I can reach easier by bike from Arlington. The Ohio C&O Canal Towpath would be my route of choice to get upriver, so spots on the Maryland side are preferred (not asking for your honey holes, just general locations ideal for shore/wade fishing). I'm sort of a newbie to bass casting for SM in a river, so I may need some technical guidance and info on specific areas / structure to target.  Beyond weedless tubes, it would also be helpful to get some insight as to what bait/profile/size is best for this river. 

 

(2) If anyone would like to fish with me, I've been looking for a fishing buddy! Unfortunately, I don't have a boat or consistent access to a car, but I can ride my bike a good long way to reach the fishing grounds. I can also comp for gas or other expenses. PM if interested. All advice and responses are welcome. 

 

Tight Lines!

Edited May 25, 20206 yr by TarHeel_Bassin

What sort of mileage are you willing to put in on your bike to go fishing?  I really don't know much of the non-tidal Potomac below Great Falls.  I also fish from a kayak, so that changes perception, in terms of how good a particular area is for wade fishing.

Welcome!  I have done several floats on the upper Potomac between Brunswick and Point of Rocks over the last 4 years.  Mainly floating closer to the VA side, than MD.  Although the conditions are amazing for smallies and what used to be really good numbers and decent size, just isn't there anymore.  With the rain/flooding over the last couple years, the spawns haven't been good at all and has killed that stretch.  I did my last float there this past weekend, really with perfect conditions of a rising river in the Spring, and only managed 5 dinks. Nothing over 10".  I'd go Shenandoah River instead.  Just my experience.

Thank you for the replies. I can easily put 40 miles (there and back), so I could reach Riverbend or Seneca Locks. I also have a friend who wants to join that has a car. Any suggestions on wading spots above Great Falls? Re: Shenandoah, Are there any businesses renting boats in Front Royal or Luray? Do you recommend any lures specifically? What pattern will the fish be in during the summer there? deep holes? riffles? I appreciate any tips you can give me.

 

On a side note, I caught a 2 pound smallie fishing the mouth by Chain Bridge last weekend! I finessed her with a green pumpkin bitsy tube on 1/8 oz. jig head. I also had one blow up and miss my whopper plopper. There seems to be a healthy number of them in those eddies by the rapids...

 

 

I've wade fished around Violets Lock about 9 years ago.  I didn't have great luck.  You've been everywhere else I've been within your range and you caught a smallie at Chain Bridge!  That's pretty great.

I'd recommend Don and Front Royal Canoe for your Shenandoah trips on the South Fork.  Right now he's only running a few of the trips, so I might call and ask Will or one of the others that does a lot fishing which is best.  Down River is also a good outfit, and they have some pretty money trips, but they've decided not to open for 2020.  I've never used Shenandoah River Outfitters, but I'd like to try some of their trips.  I think they're out of Lurray or somewhere.

Under normal circumstances, I'd advise someone in your circumstance to join Potomac River Smallmouth Club https://prsc.org.  Since you're sans kayak/canoe and wheels, the club would offer you the opportunity to do many float trips.  Several of us have a canoe or kayak we'd be glad to lend, but the trips are restricted to members.  But with COVID-19, there's no trips, meetings, etc.

If you've found someone that likes fishing and will drive, the opportunities open significantly.  There some really good spots on the North Fork of the Shenandoah, I'm told, but I've only ever fished where the 7 Bends State Park is supposed to be.  There's not a ton of access otherwise, but if you find a legal way to the river and it looks good, I'd wet a line.  The Sheandoah River State Park is really good for wading.  The Rappahannock from say Summerduck to Motts Run can be good where you can get to it.  And farther up the Potomac, around the Brunswick Bridge is prime wading smallmouth territory for the area.

I've yet to venture out this year, but by this time of the year, staying around the riffles in the morning and early evening usually is high percentage.  Soft plastics rule, and I don't know how important the exact selection is - I see people that are successful with chartreuse small lizards, natural colored TRD worms, flukes, etc.  I have been using a Nikko Zaza helgrammite on an Owner jighead, and having pretty good luck the past couple of years.  Senkos (3 & 4") are fallbacks for me.  If you can manage 2 rods, I'd put a topwater on one.  A buzzbait on the smaller size, tiny torpedoes, and Zara Puppy to Super Spook JR size walking baits are what I use, but some swear by Pop-Rs, etc.  The Whopper Ploppers were really catching them a couple of years ago, but I think a lot of the fish have seen them now, and I had no luck with them last year.