Potomac River

[Ldavis]

Has anyone been out on the Potomac? I would like to go Tuesday or Friday? Any hints on whats going on? water temps? Just checking as I am still undecided on where to put in Aquia creek or Leeyslavania. Thanks for any help.

[rondef]

Temps have been in the high 40s and low 50s lately. I do not believe that there is a public boat launch in Aquia. How are you putting your boat in there?

[Sam]

Hope Springs is on Aquia Creek.

Go out during the week as the bass clubs are having their tournaments on the Potomac as will Virginia B.A.S.S. and the TBF Federations so the ramp can get crowded with guys with short tempers.

Look at a road map and head for the bay on the road leading from Stafford to Hope Springs.  It dead-ends at the marina.

I have a tournament on the Potomac on May 3 but I am skipping it and going to the NASCAR race in Richmond so I have no information on the Potomac to share with you.

Be sure to let us know what worked and what did not work.

[rondef]

Sam,

Thanks for providing the info, I may have to try launching down there one weekend.

[Tpayneful]

Hope Springs is a Marina that has a huge metal building with dry dock storage.  It has two launch ramps and the launch fee is $15.  There is a drop box to put the money in and they do check cars throughout the day.  It is a good place to fish and will fill up with hydrilla!  Stafford county purchased waterfront land near Hope Springs and many fisherman have requested a public boat ramp be built on the property.  The original plan had no boat ramps.  I am sure that Hope Springs doesn't want to see competition from the state or county.  I concider $15 highway robbery to launch!

[rondef]

It is high but so is Leesylvania State Park, they are $13 unless you buy a pass for the year.

[Wayne P.]

There are two public ramps in Aquia Creek. One is before you get to Hope Springs. It is Willow Landing Marina.

Hope Springs has deeper water at the end of the ramp and is better for low tide launching and retrieving.

[Ldavis]

Was going to use Hope Springs or Leesylvania. Didn't know that they had went up in launch fees. Just wondering which area was doing better on the south end or north. Have a smaller aluminium boat so I can't make the long runs. Put in at Hope Springs can fish Aquia,Arkendale and Potomac creek or Leeyslvania can fish Mattawomen,Powels and Chicamuxen.

[Tpayneful]

I prefer to launch out of Occoquan at 123 and fish there as opposed to Aquia.  The ramp fee is a lot cheeper.  But I probably burn the difference in gas!

[TrickyVT1887]

Fishing has been on at Arkendale the past week or so fishing Rat-L-Traps on the flats i haven't heard much other than that good luck Ldavis

[cjbs2003]

I have an annual pass at Hope Springs, $200 but with as much as I fish and launch out of there it more than pays for itself, even if it is highway robbery. The water on Friday was 52 degrees up in the creek and 48 out on the main river at the mouth of Aquia. I caught three bass in 5 hours Friday fishing a hair jig with a small plastic trailer real slow around stumps and structure up creek. Biggest was 18.5" and 3 lbs 2 oz. Other two were both a hair over a foot. Hope that helps out a bit, this cold rainy weather is killing the fishing. The bass are sluggish, but seemed to come shallow towards evening to warm up in the warmer shallower water.