I moved to DC last year and love fishing for river/stream smallies. I have found some decent spots on the Potomac between the Chain Bridge and Harpers Ferry, but apparently the population is down to spring time flooding and other factors. While out for a jog in rock creek park, I noticed some really interesting trout stream like water with boulders, ruffles, and deep pools in a pleasantly wooded setting.  I have read about some sewage problems and in all my research, there is almost no references to smallies in the rock creek. In any case, the only way to find out what’s in a river is to fish it. I have fisher likely water a few times this summer and Sure  enough, each time has yielded several nice smallies between 12-15 inches. I have never seen anyone fishing it. Has anyone else ever fished the rock creek? Maybe the signs mentioning bacteria and the ambiguous fishing regulations dissuade most people.

Welcome aboard, Brian!

 

We've got a bunch of folks in the NOVA/DC/MD area who will chime

in and offer some advice. Good luck!

I’ve never fished for them in Rock Creek proper, but I caught my first decent sized smallie in the C&O canal about 30-40 yards upstream where the canal meets up with RC right before they both dump in to the Washington channel. 
 

I have been fishing way upstream from where you are talking with my kid for blue gills and smallies but apparently  you are not supposed to fish above porter street bridge. I called the ranger station once last year to ask why and the guy hadn’t even heard of that rule. Does anyone know why the rule exists on paper?  Are they trying to protect herring spawning grounds? Too much sewage in that area? Too crowded for fishing? I can’t figure it out and I don’t want to abuse the resource, but it is really nice water five minutes from home to catch a 12-15 inch small stream smallie now and again.