Aquia Creek in June

[wileybass]

Hey Everyone,

Ill be headed to the Potomac River in early June this summer.  Being from Ohio, I have no experience or knowledge of the area and will only have 3 days to fish.  I know that mattawoman has good fishing but also a lot of pressure.  That being said, Aquia creek looks good on maps but I was wondering if anyone could offer any tips on the area.  I love fishing shallow vegetation and docks which seem to be abundant there.  Thanks!!

[Turtle135]

Aquia was actually fishing better than Mattawoman last year. Have you fished tidal largemouth water before? If you like fishing shallow vegetation you are headed to the right place.

I fish on the Tidal Potomac River all the time and in June I will likely have three presentations tied on. A swim jig, a spinnerbait and a pegged t-rig beaver style bait.

[Logan S]

Aquia receives essentially the same amount of fishing pressure that Mattawoman does.  Everywhere on the tidal Potomac gets a ton of pressure, I wouldn't base decisions off that....Bassboats are just part of the scenery .  Both those creeks have plenty of fish in them, as does the rest of the river.  Pohick is another option to check out, good ramp and good fishing close by.  

Add a frog, chatterbait, and senko to the 3 suggestions Turtle had and you'll have all the bases covered on the Potomac.  

[Sam]

Where will you be putting in?

if at Hope Springs Marina or Willow Marina you can go to the right or left on Aquia Creek.

If at Leesylvania you can go up, down and across the Potomac.

Will be lots of grass all around you. Moving baits or a drop shot in the grass holes can work. Check out what Logan and Turtle recommend. Also, pink trick worms or Senkos can work, too. For some reason, the Potomac bass like the color pink. Drag an unweighted Zoom pink trick worm through the grass and drop it into the holes when you can. Just another suggestion.

Get a GMCO map of the Tidal Potomac and note Arkendale Flats, Potomac Creek and be sure to mark the off-limits section of the river on your map.

If you go under the Woodrow Wilson (WW Bridge) into DC waters you will need a DC license.

Do not take a flare gun into Maryland. Take hand held flares if you take any flares on your boat. Leave all guns at home while in Maryland.

Watch the weather as the Potomac is very dangerous when the wind kicks up. White caps on the main river and rough boating. The river can turn on you in a heartbeat.

Main problem is the boat traffic. As the weekend progresses more and more larger boats are launched and the ramps are only so big. Get to the ramp early and launch with the clubs. On your way home just be patient when getting to the ramp and sit back and enjoy the show.

The larger boats throw up a mean wake so be very careful. You can be sitting there, happy and calm, when all of a sudden you are being rocked hard.

You can miss the Hope Springs Marina and end up on the road above the marina and have to back up. Not a fun proposition. So study that GMCO map of the Tidal Potomac. And you can miss the Willow Landing turnoff, too. Check the times for Leesylvania ramp to open. I think it is still 6 AM if they are on time. Get in line and wait.

If the water is calm and no heavy winds or storms heading your way, you can motor all the way down to the back of Nanjemoy Creek  towards Friendship Landing and flip and pitch your way to happiness! But a serious word of caution: the creek is shallow so watch the tides or you can get stuck and not have enough water to get out. I would not recommend this place but it is on the map and some nice bass have been taken out of this creek.

Remember, check the tide charts. A falling tide is best. http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/potomacsites.html

If the weather is not in your favor put in at Hope Springs or Willow Marina (outside of Stafford) and go up creek into the Aquia Creek headwaters. Good fishing up that way and you will be out of the nasty water.

Be safe and don't take chances on the Potomac. Very unforgiving river.

Let us know how you do.

All the best for a safe and successful trip.

 

 

[wileybass]

thank you for all of the great input! I love fishing shallow grass and i never go anywhere without a swim jig tied on.  I will actually be putting in at Sweden Point in Mattawoman so its going to be a decent run to get there but I have been out on the Chesapeake Bay in fairly rough water so I am comfortable getting there.  If I am going to fish the grass mats there would you guys recommend the inside, outside, or holes in the grass? I will definitely target docks as well because that is my absolute favorite way to fish.  What do you look for before deciding to pick up a frog?  Thanks!!

[Sam]

Mattawoman is a great creek to fish. Just note all the guys in there on a weekend.

Grass Mats - Search for them in the grass. Look for grass by itself, away from the major part of the grass bed.

Fish over, under, adjacent to, around and in the grass.

As for a frog, I look at the color as I have a favorite brand. And don't forget your toads. Buzzing a toad over the grass can illicit a strike.

Try your baits and techniques until you find what they want.

Be safe and watch the weather.

[Logan S]

11 hours ago, wileybass said:

thank you for all of the great input! I love fishing shallow grass and i never go anywhere without a swim jig tied on.  I will actually be putting in at Sweden Point in Mattawoman so its going to be a decent run to get there but I have been out on the Chesapeake Bay in fairly rough water so I am comfortable getting there.  If I am going to fish the grass mats there would you guys recommend the inside, outside, or holes in the grass? I will definitely target docks as well because that is my absolute favorite way to fish.  What do you look for before deciding to pick up a frog?  Thanks!!

Aquia is a pretty easy run from Smallwood, about 15 miles.  You'll be fine as long the wind stays 'normal', just be aware that if the wind is blowing against the tide it can stack the waves up higher than you would expect.  Lots of mega-yachts run around on the weekends and they throw some pretty big wakes, so keep an eye out for those too.  

Since you'll be running around, don't limit yourself to Aquia.  Check out Potomac Creek which is just below Aquia.  Mallows Bay/Wades Bay/Blue Banks are worth also worth a stop as is Chickamuxin Creek which is just below Mattawoman.  These areas are in between Mattawoman and Aquia so you can hit them on the way down or back.  Tons of other cool areas to check out, but these are all in the same vicinity you are talking about.  

High tide = Inside edge and over the top.

Low Tide = Outside edge and first dropoff.

That's obviously a big time generalization, but it should point you in the right direction.  Frogs will work pretty much anywhere there's grass, although some times/places are better than others.  If nothing else, early in the AM is a good bet.  Otherwise, a lot of times you'll just 'know'...You'll see activity in the mat or hear the popping/splashing of baitfish.  

[Kyle46N]

22 hours ago, Logan S said:

You'll see activity in the mat or hear the popping/splashing of baitfish.  

Key in on this.  I'm relatively new to the Potomac, only been fishing it for a little over two years, but the above advice has put me on a bunch of fish when the grass starts getting thick.  Even better if that splashing looks to be schools of shad.  Find that, and you will find feeding frenzies.