Creek vs. River & Water Temperatures

[Lord Castlereagh]

Hi, All:

 

I'm a new fisherman (since July) and new to this forum, and I have 2 questions.

 

1. Where can I go to find water temperatures for the Potomac River in Virginia?

2. I want to fish Goose Creek and the Potomac. GC flows into the Potomac near Leesburg, VA. I have an idea in my head (that, deep down, I feel must be too simplistic and wrong) that I should ALWAYS fish the Potomac and not GC. Why? Well, GC is obviously much smaller than the Potomac and it feeds the Potomac. Therefore, the Potomac MUST have lots and lots more fish and be all around better fishing, right? Why fish GC when the Potomac is another 300 feet away, and will always have the best fishing? As I say, that seems logical to me, but I bet it is wrong? What say y'all?

 

By the way, Goose Creek IS a substantial creek, being, I believe, 57 miles in length.

 

Thanks much.

[Deleted account]

36 minutes ago, Lord Castlereagh said:

What say y'all?

I says wrong. But I sure wish all the tools in the Mattawoman would believe that.

[bigbassin']

Have never seen the Potomac or Goose Creek I can't tell you for sure which one is better and if you're better off just fishing one or the other.  I can tell you that one of my favorite places to fish is a feeder creek of a much bigger river.  I've never done very good on the river, where as I've done great in the creek.  Most likely I'm assuming it boils down to the fact I spend a lot more time on the creek and as such there are specific pieces of cover that I just know will have a fish on it, which makes eliminating water pretty easy.

 

I'd say give GC a try if you've never fished it, you might find you have a lot of success, like the location better, etc.  Or you don't like it, and now you know and don't have to wonder when you aren't doing great on the Potomac if you should of gone to GC instead.

[WRB]

By definition Goose Creek is a river!

Tom

[Scott F]

First off, I know nothing about Goose Creek or the Potomac, BUT, in general, smallmouth often will migrate up smaller rivers in the spring to spawn and if conditions are right, can spend the entire summer in the tributary or creek and then migrate back to the main river in the fall to spend the winter there. Some fish stay in the main river all year some don't. Those who spend a lot of time on the water can follow the fish and predict where to look and intersect those migrating fish. They'll also see the patterns that emerge to see if the fishing is better or more consistent in the main river or the tributary. As an outsider who's never fished that area, I'd have no way of knowing what conditions exist to say which might be better. I'd suggest you get out, spend a lot of time and learn what works in your water.

[Sam]

Always check the tides.

Here is one of many links for the tides:

 

http://dnr.maryland.gov/Fisheries/Pages/Tide-Finder.aspx

 

http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/virginiasites.html

 

Search for other information on the waters you fish on the Internet.

 

Be safe.

[A-Jay]

@Lord Castlereagh Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

Can't help you with your questions as I'm not familiar with that area.

But nice job defeating Napoleon, however I was sad to hear about your suicide in 1822.

That report was somewhat exaggerated apparently.

A-Jay