Potomac Bass fishing

samdutton · #1 09-07-2009, 10:33 AM

Saturday, I went with three friends to the Potomac above Hancock to go bass fishing. We waded in about four foot water and had a blast. I caught about nine smallmouths and one of us caught twenty. All in a five hour period from 7AM to noon. All were catch and release. That area is loaded with bass. The upper Potomac must be one of the best Bass fishing areas in the country. We also find that river bass fishing is far superior to lake or pond bass fishing. The river bass put up a stronger fight and are lean and fit since they must fight the continuous current. Lake bass are lazy and fat. Also, all we have heard about pollution, the Potomac water was chrystal clear. We had to cast far out to catch the bass so they couldn't see us. I also caught the largest blue gill I ever saw. What a great resource. How come we mostly mostly hear about tidal water lower Potomac bass fishing? Is it because the upper Potomac has a rocky bottom and is to shallow for the speedy and powerful Bass boats? Come on. Wade in and enjoy some real Bass fishing.

Eastside Terp · #2 09-07-2009, 07:02 PM

cool, sounds like a great time......

I used to wet wade a lot in the upper potomac and slay them with ultra light and heggramites years ago..........

CPR4LIFE · #3 09-07-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samdutton

Saturday, I went with three friends to the Potomac above Hancock to go bass fishing. We waded in about four foot water and had a blast. I caught about nine smallmouths and one of us caught twenty. All in a five hour period from 7AM to noon. All were catch and release. That area is loaded with bass. The upper Potomac must be one of the best Bass fishing areas in the country. We also find that river bass fishing is far superior to lake or pond bass fishing. The river bass put up a stronger fight and are lean and fit since they must fight the continuous current. Lake bass are lazy and fat. Also, all we have heard about pollution, the Potomac water was chrystal clear. We had to cast far out to catch the bass so they couldn't see us. I also caught the largest blue gill I ever saw. What a great resource. How come we mostly mostly hear about tidal water lower Potomac bass fishing? Is it because the upper Potomac has a rocky bottom and is to shallow for the speedy and powerful Bass boats? Come on. Wade in and enjoy some real Bass fishing.

That has always been my experience as well. I've noticed it to be true with river largemouths as well, although they're not nearly as common in rivers as the prized bronzeback, king of the fighters!

Glad you went the CPR (catch, photo, release) route as well. Such beautiful gamefish should be released for the continued propagation of the species and also so others can enjoy the fight.

Btw, what were the lengths and weights of the fish your group was catching? Around here (northern WI) a 4 pound smallie is a prized catch. They typically come in around 20 - 22 inches.

samdutton · #4 09-08-2009, 08:47 AM

My catches were all with my Ugly Stick ultra-lite. That is my favorite rod as I get great response and fight. I used small suspending lures and rooster tails with 6 pound test. Since we were in the water, we had no tape or scales for measurement. I think my largest was about 16 inches. One of the others claims 20+ inches. All I know is I'm going back!

CPR4LIFE · #5 09-08-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samdutton

My catches were all with my Ugly Stick ultra-lite. That is my favorite rod as I get great response and fight. I used small suspending lures and rooster tails with 6 pound test. Since we were in the water, we had no tape or scales for measurement. I think my largest was about 16 inches. One of the others claims 20+ inches. All I know is I'm going back!

That would be fun but I've lost too many river smallies with an ultralight...not enough spine to set the hook properly!

Plus I usually fish shorelines with a lot of submerged logs and branches...need some power to pull jigs through them should they become hung up.

samdutton · #6 09-09-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPR4LIFE

That would be fun but I've lost too many river smallies with an ultralight...not enough spine to set the hook properly!

Plus I usually fish shorelines with a lot of submerged logs and branches...need some power to pull jigs through them should they become hung up.

I fish shorelines as well. Along with my ultra-lite, I always take my medium Ugly Stick with 10 pound test to pitch to laydowns with a weedless jig and a tube. But I always use my ultra-lite for casting out. I don't think I have lost too many and maybe I don't get the bubbas, but I get a great reaction.

CPR4LIFE · #7 09-09-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samdutton

I fish shorelines as well. Along with my ultra-lite, I always take my medium Ugly Stick with 10 pound test to pitch to laydowns with a weedless jig and a tube. But I always use my ultra-lite for casting out. I don't think I have lost too many and maybe I don't get the bubbas, but I get a great reaction.

As long as you're having a good time that's all that matters!

Bowie-Bruce · #8 09-09-2009, 12:50 PM

CPR, I finally discovered what CPR stands for. It only took me three and a half years, but who's counting?

Along with little league baseball, my best memories from childhood are fishing in the Patapsco River. Catching fish was entirely secondary.

CPR4LIFE · #9 09-10-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowie-Bruce

CPR, I finally discovered what CPR stands for. It only took me three and a half years, but who's counting?

Along with little league baseball, my best memories from childhood are fishing in the Patapsco River. Catching fish was entirely secondary.

Ha! I've explained it a few times cuz peeps thought I was a paramedic or something.

Catch, Photo, Release for life.

And agreed...there is a difference between fishing and catching fish. Fishing is great...catching fish is a bonus!

Kevin · #10 09-11-2009, 01:56 AM

when I was lad, I used to go up past fort frederick and fish along the c+o canal.. talk about great fishing! and it's so beautiful up there, especially in the fall! I love smallmouths. i've heard there are muskies in there too.
Even though I live in alaska, I would come back and fish there in a heartbeat! I hope it's still the same!

rromeo923 · #11 09-18-2009, 09:04 PM

went out today and caught 10 fish. 9 smallmouth and a sunny. Two of the smallmouths were major keepers. Though i let them go.

samdutton · #12 09-19-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rromeo923

went out today and caught 10 fish. 9 smallmouth and a sunny. Two of the smallmouths were major keepers. Though i let them go.

You want to tell us where you went? or is this your secret spot.

rromeo923 · #13 09-19-2009, 02:19 PM

Kayak fishing. Taylors landing to Snyders landing. Secret!

samdutton · #14 09-19-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rromeo923

Kayak fishing. Taylors landing to Snyders landing. Secret!

Good secret!

Eastside Terp · #15 09-21-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samdutton

Saturday, I went with three friends to the Potomac above Hancock to go bass fishing. We waded in about four foot water and had a blast. I caught about nine smallmouths and one of us caught twenty. All in a five hour period from 7AM to noon. All were catch and release. That area is loaded with bass. The upper Potomac must be one of the best Bass fishing areas in the country. We also find that river bass fishing is far superior to lake or pond bass fishing. The river bass put up a stronger fight and are lean and fit since they must fight the continuous current. Lake bass are lazy and fat. Also, all we have heard about pollution, the Potomac water was chrystal clear. We had to cast far out to catch the bass so they couldn't see us. I also caught the largest blue gill I ever saw. What a great resource. How come we mostly mostly hear about tidal water lower Potomac bass fishing? Is it because the upper Potomac has a rocky bottom and is to shallow for the speedy and powerful Bass boats? Come on. Wade in and enjoy some real Bass fishing.

this made the print edition in the outdoor section of Sunday's paper.......

link

Ravenswintitle · #16 11-07-2009, 09:41 PM

I miss my MD fishing since moving to TN but have discovered Pickwick Lake - my son and I have been catching very large stripers (he caught a 20 lber last weekend) and some sweet smallies.

I used to fish a lot in the Potomac and sure miss that. I'm with you CPR - that's exactly what we do as well.

bluecrab420 · #17 11-08-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samdutton

Saturday, I went with three friends to the Potomac above Hancock to go bass fishing. We waded in about four foot water and had a blast. I caught about nine smallmouths and one of us caught twenty. All in a five hour period from 7AM to noon. All were catch and release. That area is loaded with bass. The upper Potomac must be one of the best Bass fishing areas in the country. We also find that river bass fishing is far superior to lake or pond bass fishing. The river bass put up a stronger fight and are lean and fit since they must fight the continuous current. Lake bass are lazy and fat. Also, all we have heard about pollution, the Potomac water was chrystal clear. We had to cast far out to catch the bass so they couldn't see us. I also caught the largest blue gill I ever saw. What a great resource. How come we mostly mostly hear about tidal water lower Potomac bass fishing? Is it because the upper Potomac has a rocky bottom and is to shallow for the speedy and powerful Bass boats? Come on. Wade in and enjoy some real Bass fishing.

Years ago I caught a bunch of bass in the Potomac near Sandy Hook Maryland. When I was ready to go home and I pulled the stringer out of the water there was nothing but heads left!