Beginner problems in Potomac area.

[SparkyFishLU26]

Hey all, I've been avidly fishing for about a year and a half now.  I started out just going for whatever I could catch, which usually brought in catfish, bluegill, crappie and the like. I've pulled in a few smaller sized LMB and that's got me hooked. I would like to actively go out and hunt for some big lunkers but I just can't seem to catch a darn thing.  I've done lots of research on forums and websites and youtube but nothing seems to be working.

 I live in Northern VA and have easy and ready access to the Potomac river (which from what i understand is well known for its bass) and many of the creeks and tributaries that feed it, as well as man made lakes and ponds throughout the area. I do not have a boat, so all my fishing is done from the banks.

I have 2 rods that I use on the regular.

A 7' Medium power, Fast action spinning rod. And A 6'6" med/heavy, fast action casting rod.

If anyone has any tips or can point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated. I'm becoming frustrated with this.

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard, first off!

What have you tried to throw? I can't say much
for the Potomac, but there are plenty here that
can offer assistance.

I like to start people fishing with soft plastics as
that's what I have personally have the most success
with. Wacky rigging with a 4 or 5" Senko style bait,
Texas rigging, or the like.

Give us a little info on what you've been trying.

[Choporoz]

Google nationalbass.Com and Charlie Taylor fishing report for recent reports.

Hard to find, but Ken Penrod's 'Fishing the Tidal Potomac River' is a great reference.   Great fishery,  but learning the lmb habits as relate to tides and especially grasses is critical.

[SparkyFishLU26]

11 hours ago, Darren. said:

Welcome aboard, first off!

What have you tried to throw? I can't say much
for the Potomac, but there are plenty here that
can offer assistance.

I like to start people fishing with soft plastics as
that's what I have personally have the most success
with. Wacky rigging with a 4 or 5" Senko style bait,
Texas rigging, or the like.

Give us a little info on what you've been trying.

Thanks! And I have tried a little bit if everything,  spinners, crank baits, senkos, rage tails, topwaters. I don't know if maybe my techniques or presentations are off, or maybe I'm using the wrong color at the wrong time of day?  

Typically I will look for areas that have rocks or logs, or areas of slower current and cast into these spots. Still coming up empty handed tho.

[FishnFritz]

Have you tried the occoquan river? Up in town there was easy access to the banks and it's real skinny up there. River fishing has always been difficult for me. The fish are always finicky and moody. And very difficult to fish without a boat of some kind. Very frustrating.  Have you tried the occoquan resvoir? Big fish come out of there and you can rent boats there.  Also if your fishing small water look to see what the fish are eating. And try to find a color that best matches the natural forage.  Bluegill, baby bass, frogs. Pumpkin & watermelon color plastics seem to work well anywhere to. Also it's almost like cheating but try some shiners or large minnows. Bass can't seem to resist them.  I've always had good luck using live bait no matter where I have been fishing.  

[Choporoz]

Sparky, you aren't going to like it, but you may have to get off the banks.  There's some here that will probably disagree, but after living here for 5 years, my thoughts are that bank fishing for bass around here is pretty tough.  I don't know where you are fishing, but there are plenty of bank accessible areas of the Potomac where I've never caught a fish; bass or any other fish.  The tide is a huge factor in all the places where I HAVE caught Potomac LMB.  However, the only three places off the top of my head that I've had consistent success from banks, piers or wading are all in Gunston Cove.  I'm sure there's others, but I never found them.  I'm guessing there's good spots in Aquia and Mattowoman.   Aside from the tides, the bass orient to weed lines and structure and that can be hard to find/determine/fish from shore. 

To Fritz' suggestion, I love the Occoquan River, but only since I've gotten a kayak on it.  From the banks, rocks, shore, I never caught anything there. 

Good luck.

[Kyle46N]

Find the upper reaches of the tributaries feeding the Potomac.   Then wade these creeks.   They are usually full of bass.   If you have access to Ft Belvoir, in the next month fish the shoreline of Pohick bay.  A bunch of bass will flood that shoreline in the next few weeks to spawn.  You can wade some back there too, as alot of the bottom is gravel and shell.  

[Ricky Lambert]

Check out this website, it might be able to help you with some bait advice/tactics. http://www.baybass.com/

[Turtle135]

Have you been fishing the Upper Potomac River (known for the smallmouth bass fishing) or the Lower (aka: Tidal) Potomac River (known for largemouth bass fishing)?

[Freak78]

What part of nova do you live? I was born and raised in nova and did most of my fishing in the potomac. Although most of my time was spent on a boat, I still managed to have very successful trips beating the banks.  Granted it's been nearly 15 years since I fished there so things probably changed for better or worse, but I will still add what I can remember.

Anything public around the gunston and pohick areas. (There were some insanely good creeks in gunston if you had a boat). The banks of the GW parkway were money as well.  There is a cove that meets a creek... yup lol. The marina on the parkway was also very good.

Further south around the quantico and aquia areas are very good as well and is a great spot for snakeheads before the grass takes over.

Under the rt.1 bridge in woodbridge for the Occoquan. Side didn't matter too much, plus it was home to monster carp, catfish, and stripers. Even up in the town was good on either side and that includes the park on the prison side.

Like I said these were very productive when I was fishing them and it has been a great number of years since I have fished there. As far as lures, all I had was cranks, crawfish imitators and manns electric grape jelly worms lol. Those were absolutely killer back then. As were the flying lures. There I said it!