Wading the Potomac

[Buzzbaiter]

I’m planning on camping at Jordan Junction Hiker Biker Campsite and wading the Potomac for smallmouth in the spring or summer. I’ve never been to the Potomac, but it looks pretty wide and intimidating. Is that part of the river safe to wade?

[John Diamond]

You could probably wade some areas of it there, I personally haven't so maybe others could speak.  It does seem pretty deep, but there might be some spots that aren't too bad.  The river does, most of the time, have a very swift and strong current, I would only do it if the river is really, really low in dead of summer.  The areas I fish in it (Point of Rocks to Whites Ferry) I wouldn't wade most times.  Too strong of current and where it is shallow enough, a lot of foot entrapment potential.  

[newbiedmv]

On 12/7/2021 at 2:52 PM, John Diamond said:

You could probably wade some areas of it there, I personally haven't so maybe others could speak.  It does seem pretty deep, but there might be some spots that aren't too bad.  The river does, most of the time, have a very swift and strong current, I would only do it if the river is really, really low in dead of summer.  The areas I fish in it (Point of Rocks to Whites Ferry) I wouldn't wade most times.  Too strong of current and where it is shallow enough, a lot of foot entrapment potential.  

Oh yeah!!!!! The upper Potomac from Whites ferry (closed) up through Williamsport is dangerous as heck. I personally knew two people that have drowned. I heard both were sucked under. They both died at the Dickerson Warm water outlet.  I waded into Williamsport in the 80s and barely made it out alive 2 miles down stream and I was 22 at the time.

It's a very deceptive river, so much so the DNR won't go places to check duck hunting license. 

[Munkin]

On 12/5/2021 at 2:55 PM, Buzzbaiter said:

I’m planning on camping at Jordan Junction Hiker Biker Campsite and wading the Potomac for smallmouth in the spring or summer. I’ve never been to the Potomac, but it looks pretty wide and intimidating. Is that part of the river safe to wade?

I don't know that area but have fished the Upper Potomac River for 40 years.  Best advice I can give you is don't wade in any water you cannot clearly see the bottom.  Most places in the summer you can walk from Maryland to WV across the river.  

 

Allen 

[OldManLure]

I have fished the stretch between Four Locks and Williamsport from my kayak two times in past few years, both in ‘low’ water conditions during the summer (levels lower than average).   Dam 5 is approximately 5 miles upstream from Jordan Junction.  I noticed a number of places between this dam and Jordan Junction that could be waded in low water.  There is another dam about 2 miles down river in Williamsport.  The water level increases between JJ and this dam.  I do not recall any spots on this stretch that struck me as good for wading.

There are two USGS gages between Dam 5 and the dam at Williamsport.  The gage upstream from JJ is BELOW dam 5 and is the gage I would rely on for making any decision.  The other gage is downstream from JJ and is slightly ABOVE the dam at Williamsport so it reads deeper.  
On the two trips I fished this stretch I was with a buddy and did not have to bike the CandO Canal towpath from take-out back to my truck, so I cannot say with any confidence how accessible the river is from the towpath, but I would be shocked if there wasn’t a number of paths created by hikers and locals who fish from bank.   Good luck if you go!

[Mastercaster]

I grew up in the 80s & 90s wading the Potomac below the old dam at Harpers Ferry spring thru Fall, as always just need to check the water level the day before. After heavy rains the river can get scary but usually in the dead of July & August it is pretty low and wadable. The deeper water is on the MD side but still plenty of areas to wade. Even above the dam (MD side) you can wade out in a lot of places ( Have done that with my son and daughter 12 &14). Another fun trip is to canoe from Brunswick to Point of Rocks.