I'm making the trip down to D.C. for the Take A Wounded Soldier Fishing tournament. We are launching out of Bolling Airforce Base this Saturday, the 15th, and I was wondering what's working and where to start, since I've never been on this river before. One other thing, it looks like pretty severe thunderstorms all week, with Saturday being the first nice day all week. I have a map of the river, and have a very vague idea of how to work the tides, but I really want the wounded vet that will be with me to get on some fish, so any help is greatly appreciated.

What kind of boat?

Dan, I'm bringing my bass boat.

oh boy. Assuming you are fishing for largemouth there are A LOT of possibilities. How far are you willing to run?

I have to stay within the confines of D.C., so down to Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and as high as say, the Pentagon Lagoon. Not knowing the river, I didn't want to do too much running, but if it's suggested, I'll run anywhere within those parameters.

Shane, if we get rain like they are talking about the river will be heavy stained to muddy. You will need presentations that make vibrations in the water that the bass can detect. Chatterbaits or swim jigs with the Rage craws or lobsters should perform well. The big fish of the tournament came from the Bolling Air Force Base docks last year and it was caught flipping a space monkey. The docks at the mouth of the Anacostia and in the back of the Washington Channel also performed well. The Petagon lagoon, the rip rap at the airport should also perform well. There is also a water discharge pipe from the Alexandria power plant that may be holding fish.

ahhhhh, too bad you can't go farther south.

There is the Spoils area which is down by the WW Bridge on the MD side. It's a little bay full of junk that holds fish. I think it may technically be MD but it is north of the bridge.

Then there is Blue Plains, the waste water treatment facility, also on the MD side.

Four Mile Run is on the VA side just south of Reagan National Airport (right across from Bolling AFB)

There's the warmwater discharge in Alexandria

Washington Sailing Marina on the VA side has lots of boat docks (right across from Bolling AFB)

I've heard Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary can be good but you have to go through a culvert to get to it and you can only do it when the tide is right, otherwise you can't get in or out.

All of these spots are easy to find on Google Maps.

Washington sailing marina is a good place to be and it wont be crowded either. I had alot of success there in the fall with stanley wedge spinnerbaits. And some friends of mine have caught keepers there recently. Too bad you cant go south or I would turn you onto a few money spots I been fishin lately. I would bring some Manns baby minus ones, red eye shad lipless crankbaits, wareagle half ounce spinnerbaits and 3/8 ounce as well. Brush hogs work right now and so do yamamoto kreatures. Buzzbaits are good in the morning so have a few on hand in case. Wouldnt hurt to have some zoom super salt flukes on hand either, they been working for me out there with a fast retrieve. Be very very careful as that part of the river is tricky and dangerous. Also google potomac tides and check to see how its gonna be. The water has been low lately with no tide to speak of, hopefully that will change before saturday or its gonna make it even tricker to navigate. Good luck and holla at me if you need anything.

Thanks for the input, guys. Much appreciated.

If it is really muddy then the Washington Harbour is your best bet, it is pretty protected and clear even when bad weather hits.  The Spoils is also a good spot to fish.  Be careful when navigating the Blue Plains/Spoils/Alexandria vicinity there are a lot of obstructions that can destroy your lower unit.  Immediately up river from the spoils is a large man-made point called Fox Ferry point that comes a few hundred yards off shore and it is submerged 99% of the time but will destroy your boat if you hit it.  Outside of Blue Plains there are lots of old submerged docks that can really mess you up if you run into them.

Sorry if this is kind of off topic.  I'm still a noobie, both to the area and fishing somewhat.  I caught my first LMB off of plastic worms and spinners this year, been reading a lot of the good advice from you guys. 

No boat for me, is there good fishing from the shore at bolling afb?  I got my CAC there but didn't know you could fish there.  Where do I go once I get past the guard?