20 Degree Temp Drop

[Zeeter]

Fishing the Potomac tomorrow. It's around 90 today, but won't get above 70 tomorrow. Is this enough to knock the females off the beds? Also, 10 mph winds from the east.

 

I'm thinking they'll either go deep or take cover in wind-protected areas on the east bank. 

 

Thoughts?

[Choporoz]

After most of the last three weeks, 10mph winds will be calm and peaceful....tough to tell what the temp drop will do...it was only 90 for two days, I think...pretty sure it was in the 70's before that.  I'd worry more about tides and emerging grass than wind and temps, if it were me.  I bet the river was on fire ahead of that front last night.

[Zeeter]

10:30 low tide should be good. 

 

Any advice for technique?

[RoLo]

 

From all I've seen, dips in water temperature are well tolerated, but high winds can take away the punch bowl.

A good example is a vacation I took in the Thousand Islands, Canada.

It was spawning season for largemouth bass, and I was fishing a 2-1/2 ft deep backwater flat,

just outside Lake-of-the-Isles. The water temperature had dropped to ~60 deg but the fishing was superb.

That night a strong wind moved into Rockport, Ontario. The following morning the wind was blowing

straight into the cove, and the bedding flat was marbled with whitecaps.

I couldn't buy one bite that day, the bedding flat turned into desert cove.

 

Roger 

 

[Choporoz]

Grass is coming up.  Old rules about Potomac grass should apply at this time of year, too; outside lines and patches of grass as you approach low tide....inside grass lines as the tide comes in.  I've had good luck at low tide throwing Rage Tail Cut-R's and Structure Bugs into the thick of the laydowns.   The biggest crook of a branch/trunk will hold the biggest bass in the tree.  You can get a limit chasing surface activity, but they may be smaller than those hunkered down.  I throw 1/4oz lipless into boils and come away with a fish often.  Problem is that it can be frustrating following them around and you never know if it's one pounders that have got them riled up or maybe even catfish.  If fishing the docks, spend a few minutes at a good one and figure them out; traps, cranks, chatterbaits, flipping plastics (I like Structure Bugs, Reins worms, Air Craws, robo worms, etc)...what works on one dock will work on others.  GL.

[Choporoz]

Qualification note:  I have some experience between Chopawamsic and Dogue...and just one day on Mattawoman...so, you can extrapolate somewhat...but I really don't know anything about the big expansive flats other than Gunston Cove....nor do I know how to fish deeper main stem areas.  

[fishballer06]

Wind from the east, fish bite the least...

[Deleted account]

Water temp has been over 60 for a while now in most places, You'll probably find 66-72 degree water tomorrow. The majority of bass have spawned already, but most will still be shallow. I'd stay in the larger creeks and bays, and maybe the spoils. The upcoming air temperatures aren't going to cool the water any, they'll just slow the warming for a few days.

[Deleted account]

10 hours ago, Zeeter said:

10:30 low tide should be good. 

 

Any advice for technique?

 

A chatter, spinnerbait, squarebill, and your favorite pitching plastic is really all you need. A senko, lipless and dropshot too if you like a cluttered deck.

[Megastink]

You're talking about these bass as if they are in a lake. These are TIDAL bass. They move with the tide, with little effect from weather. Fish the tides. 

[Zeeter]

I wound up with two, both caught on a purple/blue jig. Hit into another one but he got off somehow. Both of mine were at the edge of docks, between the pilings and the grass. I had a bite on this jig early but it got off before I could even call "net". The boater suggested that maybe my trailer was too big, so I put one of my few remaining Uncle Josh pork trailers on it. Within one or two casts I got my lunker. Got my 2nd a few minutes later, and then an hour later I was reeling in the third, boater ready with the net, when the fish got off. I don't think it was a huge one but might have put me up to 3rd place.

 

Boater had the same luck. I came in 5th in the tournament with a 6.7 or so weight including a 4.5 lber. 2nd place in the lunker pool, which I'm still curious about because the lunker winner's fish was dead.