The Potomac (Aquia Creek)

[Nitrofreak]

My first experience of the fishery and hopefully many more to come.

I have to say what a great part of the Potomac Aquia Creek is, I didn't cover it all but the area that I did cover was amazing, I am not filing a full detailed report because I really didn't pay attention to water temps, I was there to take a veteran out for a day of fun and tried to focus on primarily that.

Through the help of some amazing people on here who frequent this fishery it ended up being a truly great experience, I was only allowed two fish and the rest had to come from my warrior, we stated at 8:00 am, by 10:30, I had my two on a really high pressured area as well as weather wise.

Aquia Creek was stained, I had been told that the grass was really productive by several but on this day it was null for me, where I did find success was on the wood in that area, particularly lay downs, I marked a lot of fish where the lay downs reached a drop off, i also marked some that were on tree stumps near those drop offs.

My first was one that came close to the end of one of those lays on a 3/8 oz. spinner, one gold, one silver willow leaf with a chartuse and white skirt, I used a salt and pepper twin tail grub as a trailer and swam it just deep enough to pick up the reflection from the blades under the surface, either making contact with and or swimming it really close to the lay was productive, they didn't seem to move very far from where they were positioned.

The second came off of a 1/2oz. Jig in pumpkin seed with a watermelon red trailer, pitched to boat dock pilings.

The day couldn't go by without fishing the many pad fields you guys have at least once, I chose the bends in the upper creek for that, I used the spinner I had and fished the edges in accordance with the current provided by the tidal movement, my second cast to the bend and it got annihilated by a snakehead, what an absolute thrill that was to bring in, I have never had my line sound like it was being plucked like a guitar string, such a hammering strike and ensuing fight afterward, it completely destroyed my spinner bait but in the end was well worth it.

I'll have pictures to post as they become available to me, according to my Berkley scale the snakehead went 10.2, I did not officially weigh it and the official bass was if I remember correctly 6.96, a truly great fishery you guys have for sure!!!

[Logan S]

Come back in May/June and you'll really love it .  There's 60+ more miles of river and a dozen+ tributaries to explore!  

[Nitrofreak]

I think I would like to hook up with a couple of you Potmac junkies at some point and time and get a line wet or two, I know the place is huge as well as getting used to the signage, that was a bit different for me along with the tidal waters but man was it fun !!!

[lakeannaangler]

Aquia creek is a really good fishery for bass as well as catfish and snake heads. The size of that body of water is unlike anything I've experienced

[Nitrofreak]

7 hours ago, lakeannaangler said:

Aquia creek is a really good fishery for bass as well as catfish and snake heads. The size of that body of water is unlike anything I've experienced

Where about are you at in Shenandoah ?

Your right, Aquia is fun, I only spent time from the rail road bridge up to the bends, so much more there I know but didn't get a chance to explore it all, looking forward to going back.

[lakeannaangler]

I live on loop road which is 5-10 minutes from the town of Shenandoah. If I wanted to I could walk from my house and follow naked creek until it empties into the Shenandoah river.

1 hour ago, Nitrofreak said:

Where about are you at in Shenandoah ?

Your right, Aquia is fun, I only spent time from the rail road bridge up to the bends, so much more there I know but didn't get a chance to explore it all, looking forward to going back.

Where are you located in Harrisonburg? 

[Sam]

[Choporoz]

Thanks for the reports, Sonny!  Sounds like a great day.  I've not scratched the surface of the tidal Potomac, but I love it.  Tidal fishing is so much different than lake fishing.  All the challenges of a reservoir, but add in the fact that they move with the tides, also. Nice thing is that I don't think there are any dinks in that river system.  No hogs that I've found, but it seems that every catch is between two and three and a half pounds. 

[Nitrofreak]

12 hours ago, lakeannaangler said:

I live on loop road which is 5-10 minutes from the town of Shenandoah. If I wanted to I could walk from my house and follow naked creek until it empties into the Shenandoah river.

Where are you located in Harrisonburg? 

Indian Trail rd. On the very edge of the burg heading toward New Market, I used to fish the Shenandoah above the 602 bridge there a fair bit but have not been in about a year.

28 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Thanks for the reports, Sonny!  Sounds like a great day.  I've not scratched the surface of the tidal Potomac, but I love it.  Tidal fishing is so much different than lake fishing.  All the challenges of a reservoir, but add in the fact that they move with the tides, also. Nice thing is that I don't think there are any dinks in that river system.  No hogs that I've found, but it seems that every catch is between two and three and a half pounds. 

Your welcome Dave, sorry it wasn't as detailed as it should have been, it was all new to me, not an excuse, more so of just being caught up in it all and I overlooked a few things LOL !

 

[Dypsis]

The Potomac can be a fickle beast for sure!  Great report and you will soon love/hate that river like the rest of us.  

I had a club tourney Saturday and only had one bite all day.  My boater had 3.  We only had 1 limit for about 6.6lbs - all almost cookie cutter 12".  1 person with 4 and a few with 3.  

[Nitrofreak]

12 hours ago, Dypsis said:

The Potomac can be a fickle beast for sure!  Great report and you will soon love/hate that river like the rest of us.  

I had a club tourney Saturday and only had one bite all day.  My boater had 3.  We only had 1 limit for about 6.6lbs - all almost cookie cutter 12".  1 person with 4 and a few with 3.  

I believe ya man and thanks for the kind words Dypsis !!

[everythingthatswims]

I got 3rd place in a High School event at Aquia fishing against 30+ boats, with 2 bass, for 5lbs. Definitely can be fickle in the summer!

[Nitrofreak]

Don't mean to bring up old posts but, I promised a pic as soon as it became available, here ya go.