Oct.26 Dam #4 Report

[Boett43]

Any of you that are in the northeast know we are getting pounded with rain today but me and a few friends braved the weather and it was worth it. All together we cuaght probaly 25 bass between us and had 5 keeper size the biggest was probaly 3lb wich aint bad for a smallie around here forgot to mention all of the bass we caught we smallmouth no largies. We caught most on lipless stuff and I cuaght about 5 on a spider jig..just thought id share ...pictures to come unless the camera is ruined   but all and all a rainy day turned amazing by catching som BASS!!

[basser89]

Nice work Boett and a brave soul indeed!  ;D  Depending on how the levels respond, I may try to get out at some point tomorrow. Can't wait to see the pics! How deep were the smallies holding?

[Boett43]

I got mine on the jig off the bottom where they were sitting in about 12 feet ...but my friend caught the biggest smallie of the day in about 8 ft let me know how your outting goes if you head out there.  Hey Basser quick ? idk how much you fish Dam 4 but have you ever pulled a large mouth out of there

[basser89]

Hey Boett,

Didn't make it out. The levels are up but I just didn't like the color. Still a looked a little muddy for me. Hopefully, I can pull off an outing this week to take advantage of the levels!

I have caught a few largemouths below the dam. Nothing real big, somewhere in the 2-2 1/2 pound range.

[Boett43]

yeah its the damdest thing havent caught one largie anytime ive been out there ..now we are gonna have bounce ideas off eachother now that i found someone on here that heads down there quite a bit have you ever fished the power plant water in dickerson? dont know if you know the area or not

[basser89]

I'll be glad to help you out however I can Boett!

I've been fishing PEPCO for a couple of years now. I generally start fishing it late November through February. So I know a couple of spots in through that area. I do most of my fishing right at the discharge but you have to get there kinda early so you get a decent spot and have some time to fish before the kayakers start doing their runs.  >

[Boett43]

you know how many times ive thought i tossing a lipless crankbait at them d**n kyakers

[basser89]

LOL! I know what you mean! I've thought about taking a musky rod with me and throw one of my big musky baits their way when they pull some of the stunts they pull. Don't get me wrong! I show them the respect they deserve having a right to the water too but when they disrespect me, that's when I have a problem!!!!! I've been fishing 50-100 yards below the discharge and I've had them run right through the area I was fishing. Then they turn around and head back up to the area where they usually get off onto the shore.  >

[Boett43]

Yeah ive had it soo bad to the point where they would be doing the water resuce and the would have 5 people on a raft and flip right infront of the shore where i was standing..if the fishing wasnt soo good there sometimes i wouldnt go back..have you took your boat down there  like right where the discharge is ? just wondering what its like from a boat cuase ive only shore fished from there..haha actually dont know if you have a boat or just assuming

[bass109]

good work 8-)

[basser89]

Hey Boett,

Yeah, I have a 16' jon boat. Had an outboard for it until some idiot stole it at the end of winter.  > That ruined several areas I wanted to hit this year on the Potomac.

I hit dam 4 this afternoon from shore. The smallie action was non-exsistent! Didn't get skunked though. I managed an 18" walleye on a lipless crankbait and one heck of a battle with a musky. Unfortunately, the musky won that fight. Not really a fair fight with a med. action spinning rod and a bandit crankbait! Thank goodness I usually use braid when I fish the Potomac for smallies. It's saved me several baits that walleye and musky have tried to take!  ;D

[MskSlyr]

Boett,

Basser89 is definitely right about the braid when hitting anywhere on the Potomac. The discharge area late in the year holds some very large walleye including some more than likely over 10lbs. I fish a lot of the same areas that Basser fishes and have even run across him at the river before. To add to the comments about Dam 4, I have had success in the past with largemouth and smallies among other species there. The key with the largemouth in the Dam 4 area for me is reading the levels correctly. Some of the nooks and crannies that you fish at Dam 4 will hold different species at different times because of level fluctuations. This does not apply to all areas just a few slackwater spots that I have run across but if you start logging your data and look at trends you will find the patterns. If you bass fish that area a lot be weary of the muskies without braid. Of course you may be seasoned in the way of the muskies like Basser and in that case it may not be a problem.

[Munkin]

I fish Slackwater all the time and this year the LM have been hard to find. This is the time of year that you will catch the most LM though. Jerkbaits, shallow cranks and spinnerbaits are what I like to use for the fall. I should be going fishing there Saturday with a boat I plan on buying this week and will have an open seat if anyone is interested? I have to tow the boat back to Maryland from Missouri on Friday (12 hours) and then find a ride to the BWI airport to get my car.

Allen

[Boett43]

Sorry I cant join ya Munkin ..but lets try and keep this post going for awhile so we can all really get to know the area.Do most of yall launch out of Downsville? And whats yalls Personal Best that have come out of there? Just Curious

[Munkin]

Do most of yall launch out of Downsville? And whats yalls Personal Best that have come out of there? Just Curious

Yes, at the Big Slackwater ramp

6-7 LM on a Baby brush hog

Allen

[Boett43]

I dont know if this is a stupid ? but what exactly is slackwater haha sorry i new to most of these fishing terms

[Munkin]

Big Slackwater is the name of the boat ramp and area above Dam #4. Four Locks is above Dam #5 and Dargans bend is above Dam #3.

Allen

[Boett43]

how far away would d**n 3 or 5 be from frederick?

[Munkin]

Dam 3 is at Dargans bend which I believe is in Fredrick county? I have only been there once this year and we drove through Sharpsburg to get there. Dam 5 is south of Clearspring and about 30 minutes + or - 10 minutes.

Allen

[Boett43]

have you fished dam 3 or 5...and if soo whats it like...Thanks Alot for all your Info

[Munkin]

Dam 3 only once and the water is low so I do not think I can put my prop boat in there?

Dam 5 is about the same as Dam 4 except less walleyes.

Allen

[Boett43]

OK thanks haha sometimes i could go without catching them walleye soo i might check out dam 5..do you know if there is as much recretional water stuff that goes on up there like jet skies and what not

[Munkin]

Unfortunately yes. > What size is your boat and motor?

Allen

[Boett43]

My friend has a 16 foot jon boat with a 15hp motor its wide and seems to handle the wakes at dam 4 pretty good you think that would hold its own up there

[Munkin]

Do not launch at Four Locks go up to McCoy's Ferry and launch at that ramp. The area around McCoy's Ferry is too shallow and the ramp is not big enough for large boats.

If you want to learn about the river buy Ken Penrods book on fishing the Upper Potomac river. It was written about 1990 but he explains the different sections of the river usually from Dam to Dam. The book lists all the public ramps and even gives directions to them.

Allen