Anybody else fishing the Upper Potomac?

[JacobB006]

Hello. I have been fishing the upper Potomac around Shepherdstown, WV with very minimal luck. Ive fished some very good looking ledges, riprap, and eddies. River is optimal depth at 2.5 feet and pretty clear. In the past 2 days i have fished 6 hours and have only caught 2 11" smallmouth. If anybody els ehas been fishing pleas let me know how your fishing has been. Thank you

[Steveo-1969]

I haven't fished the river since June, but I usually fish anywhere from Shepherdstown upriver to Dam #5. Wet wading (or bank fishing if the river level is too high to safely wade). Smallmouth numbers are way down in the UP right now so unfortunately it's no surprise you aren't catching many fish. MD DNR has been stocking the last couple years and a recent survey showed a good spawn in 2020 so hopefully smallmouth numbers will be better in coming years. Please practice catch and release on any smallies you do catch. Website for you to check out:

 

https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/smallmouth_bass_stocking.aspx

 

[Brian Martalus]

Hi. I moved to DC last Sept and had high hopes of awesome smallmouth fishing on the Potomac. I have put in at least a dozen wet wading sessions from June to last night from the DC chain bridge to Great Cacapon, including awesome looking spots in and around Harpers Ferry, creek mouths near  Point of Rocks, etc. All the books I read and all my fishing instincts told me these were places where banner days of 20 plus fish were possible in good conditions. Unfortunately my success has been limited. I have been skunked a few times and usually catch 2-5 fish at most.  Most fish are 12-16 range with a few pushing 18 so I can’t complain about quality.  From my fishing in my home state of NJ in on the Delaware, you know a river is good shape when you are getting lots of smaller fish of different year classes in addition to big fish. At first I chalked my lack of success on the Potomac to me being a new guy on a big river but the more I talked to local regulars and did online research, the more I understand the river is very cyclical and hit the bottom of a cycle last/this season due many years of late spring time flooding which screwed up the spawn/caused excessive mortality in newly hatched fish as well as reduced habitat and insect/forage base. Other factors are increasing catfish populations, agricultural pollution and increased summer water temps(water temps hit over 90 a few times by Little Falls ). There are glimmers of hope of a resurgence with lots of bait fish and a decent 2020 spawn so let’s hope for the best! Smallies are such exciting gamefish that it would be a shame if the current slump continues.Let’s see if the stocking program helps or just provides excellent catfish food. 

[OldManLure]

On 8/26/2020 at 7:05 PM, JacobB006 said:

Hello. I have been fishing the upper Potomac around Shepherdstown, WV with very minimal luck. Ive fished some very good looking ledges, riprap, and eddies. River is optimal depth at 2.5 feet and pretty clear. In the past 2 days i have fished 6 hours and have only caught 2 11" smallmouth. If anybody els ehas been fishing pleas let me know how your fishing has been. Thank you

New to forum, and just saw your post.  Were you fishing from bank or were you on the water?

I have fished stretches between Brunswick and Dam 4 regularly in my yak for several years.  2020 was tough for a variety of reasons.  I can tell you that this year has been significantly better in both numbers and size, especially just above and below miles Shepherdstown.  I have caught PB three times this summer.   Don’t give up on the Potomac.  It is an awesome river.