Fishing The Tidal Potomac In The Winter

[Turtle135]

Anyone have any luck fishing the Tidal Potomac in the winter for largemouth bass?

 

Excluding a warm water discharge area was looking for any insight on what type of conditions you look for and what type of presentations you favor. I've been skunked down there 3 straight trips this month (dealing with surface temperatures around 38 degrees). Since my local lakes are still frozen over I will be taking another whack at it this weekend.

 

Thanks in advance

[Catch 22]

I don`t know  a lot about the place, but I do know that targeting LMB in 38deg water is a real challenge.

Penrod Cove right above the 495/95 bridge would be my choice to start. Blades baits and jigs work there.

 

From another forum I visit,I read that crappie fishing is great in the winter. Huge catties are are available on cut bait and other stinky stuff.

 

Hope this helps

 

C22

[Turtle135]

I don`t know  a lot about the place, but I do know that targeting LMB in 38deg water is a real challenge.

Penrod Cove right above the 495/95 bridge would be my choice to start. Blades baits and jigs work there.

 

From another forum I visit,I read that crappie fishing is great in the winter. Huge catties are are available on cut bait and other stinky stuff.

 

Hope this helps

 

C22

 

Thanks, I appreciate the intel. Yes, the spoils cove gets a warm water influence from Blue Plains up river. I am fishing from a kayak and access to that area out of Jones Point Park has been a problem (last two times I went by they had the gate locked).

 

I will keep banging away down there, one of two things will happen  (1) I will finally have some success down there (2) spring will finally arrive!

[Logan S]

Since you're in a kayak, try launching from Occoquan Regional Park.  It's all no-wake until you get down into Belmont so getting around shouldn't be too bad.  

 

It's a popular winter spot too.  Head downstream to the bridges and marinas.  Drop shot, grub, and silver buddy would be good choices  Good perch and crappie fishing in there as well.  This time of the winter can be hit or miss, once we get into February it usually picks up a little. 

 

  

[dave]

Spend the time going to the many fishing flea markets around the area.  Great deals to be had.  Looking at and buying tackle is the next best thing to fishing.  Especially when there's no catching...

[Turtle135]

 

Since you're in a kayak, try launching from Occoquan Regional Park.  It's all no-wake until you get down into Belmont so getting around shouldn't be too bad.  

 

It's a popular winter spot too.  Head downstream to the bridges and marinas.  Drop shot, grub, and silver buddy would be good choices  Good perch and crappie fishing in there as well.  This time of the winter can be hit or miss, once we get into February it usually picks up a little. I t

 

That is where I fished for 3 straight trips (and got skunked for largemouth). It really does look like a good winter area for bass and I know there are a lot of crappie in that section but I have not been able to unlock the code there when the water gets under 40 degrees. 

[TN_Ian]

I live in DC by the waterfront.  I walk to my fishing spots and fish from the shore, so things can be slow even in good weather.  It can get pretty grim.  I haven't been fishing too often this winter, but I have gotten skunked every time since the water froze over.  I did however catch a 4-5 pound (not much smaller than by biggest bass) largemouth in the Washington Channel as my only fish of the season. 

 

I am learning tidal fishing, so being out there and watching the water is not a waste of time for me - even with no fish biting.  I was wondering, do you like to move with the tide, or do you stay in one spot and adjust to the tide?.. any general advice would be awesome

[Turtle135]

I live in DC by the waterfront.  I walk to my fishing spots and fish from the shore, so things can be slow even in good weather.  It can get pretty grim.  I haven't been fishing too often this winter, but I have gotten skunked every time since the water froze over.  I did however catch a 4-5 pound (not much smaller than by biggest bass) largemouth in the Washington Channel as my only fish of the season. 

 

I am learning tidal fishing, so being out there and watching the water is not a waste of time for me - even with no fish biting.  I was wondering, do you like to move with the tide, or do you stay in one spot and adjust to the tide?.. any general advice would be awesome

 

Congrats on the nice winter bass! What did you catch her on?

 

On fishing tidal water, since I fish from a kayak chasing the tides up and down the length of the Potomac River is not feasible. What I do during warmer water seasons is follow the bass into the shallows on the high tides. They will push into inches of water looking for food in that newly flooded water. As the tide pulls out I look for little cuts that drop into deeper water. Bass will hang around spots like that waiting for the outgoing current to deliver food right to them.

 

In the winter, in cold water, what I believe the bass are looking for are areas that have adequate depth so that they do not have to relocate as the tide goes up and down (and areas that have current breaks so that they do not have to work to hold position against the current).

[TN_Ian]

I was using a 4 inch paddle-tail swim bait in a baby bass color.  I would let it sit on the bottom, swim it up a few feet, and let it sink back to the bottom where I'd let it sit again.  It was one of the times where you get the bite while you are not thinking about fishing.