First time on Mattawomen

[steveb1]

Went out from Leesylvania on Sunday and crossed over to Mattawomen for the first time. The way over was smooth, but the way back was rough. I was totally clueless on how rough the Potomac can get. I am extremely glad I decided to get a 19' boat, instead of the 18's I was originally looking at.

Went all the way in to the very back, and worked my way out. Mostly throwing plastic worms and lizards on wood or structure where I could find it. Did pretty well (for me anyway), caught 11, with my best five weighing in at 12 lbs.

Mattawomen is a sea of grass. I am more comfortable in fishing wood and banks. Ok, survey time. How do you fish the grass in Mattawomen?

[.dsaavedra.]

lol yeah tons and tons of grass.

fish spro frogs on top, weedless plastics along edges and pockets, or punch through with 1.5oz tungsten.

lot of fun fishing in mattawoman.

[mudkart]

That section of the Potomac can be the roughest you will see.  A N/NW wind, beginning in Belmont or Occoquan, has anywhere from 4 - 6 miles of open water to blow across before it reaches the mouth of Mattawoman. 

For fishing grass, what dsaavedra said, and I would add a Zoom horny toad, or the like.  Rig it weightless.

[rondef]

Rage Toads and shad, reel them in and let them fall into the holes in the grass.  Hack attack jigs, punchthe mats with Rage craws or lobsters as trailers.

[Sam]

From Teddy Carr:

Tidal Potomac River

This has been the most consistent week as of yet where fish were biting pretty much throughout the whole river.

This allowed me to work the river from Mount Vernon to Aquia Creek.

I stayed with main river grass the whole way. Early in the week we primarily used white Booyah spinnerbaits and by weeks end we got on a good buzzbait bite using a black Booyah 1/4-ounce Pip-Zqueek.

The big fish are scattered and are a little deeper into the grass bed with a lot of 14 to 15-inch bass located along the outside and inside edges.

The bass also came back on at Arkendale Flats.

[egolfer]

THe mouth of Mattawomen is the one roughest areas on the river.  I would say it's second to the mouth of Aquia and Potomac Creeks.  It can be like the Bering Strait down there.

The shallow wood bite pretty much ends about the end of April as the grass takes over and covers the wood.  On higher tides you can still fish the wood.  There is also a lot of main river wood that does not get grassed in.  You can also pattern docks, not in Mattawomen, but other creeks on the river have lots of docks.  That is a pattern that pays off at times.  I would say stick to the grass, frogs, toads, 10" worms, buzzbaits, craws... If it's weedless, throw it!

[RockvilleMDAngler]

Basics of fishing grass on the river:

- At high tide fish the inside grass edge (the edge closest to shore)

- At low tide fish the outside grass edge (the edge closer to the channel)

- The grass edge that you can see is not necessarily the actual edge of the grass, use your electronics to locate the grass edge and fish it thoroughly with soft plastics and moving baits.  Begin moving in towards the thicker stuff if you are not getting bit, once you find the area the fish are holding you can use that same technique and depth at other grass in similar tide situations (run the river chasing the tide).

- Use a frog bait (either a buzz frog or a hollow body) to find fish in matted grass but be ready with a heavy (1-2 ounce weight) flipping rig to punch the mats when the frog reveals fish.  Don't waste too much time on each flip, punch through the mat shake it then flip again, you are looking for a reaction bite from these fish.

- If a high tide leaves a space from the top of the grass to the surface fish this with a Baby 1- crankbait, spinnerbait, or chatterbait.  If there is a lot of wind with this situation a spinnerbait or chatterbait is your best bet.

- Look for irregularities in the grass.  Cuts, points, different grass types etc are good spots to target.

[soccplayer07]

well said Rockville.

[hawghuntin]

When Hurricane Isabel was approaching the main captain at Dandy Riverboats in Alexandria asked me to take the smaller boat out and anchor up while the storm passed. We got a late start heading downriver and after he couldn't get his anchor to hold in Belmont we took both boats across to Mattawomen. At mid river the waves were 7 to 10 feet - never thought I would see that on the Potomac - reminded me of Alaska. Alexandria was a mess the next morning - twisted or missing docks, boats washed on shore or off their trailers, and I'll never forget the big cabin cruiser sitting on the bottom at the end of the city dock with just its antennas sticking out of the water. Anyone else remember that storm?

[Sam]

I should have added to my original post that the Potomac can turn on you in a heartbeat.

Glad you made it back without any problems. 

[Live to Learn]

First time I crossed it was on my 16' alumi with 40hp...It was about dark and these nice 4' rollers came outa no where! I came completely outa the water at only 30mph! My buddy behind me saw the prop and everything following in his tracker! crazy stuff...

I like the Ribbit frogs myself and a Hackney double hook by Tru Tungsten. I had a big one hit my 10'' culprit on the outside edge Tuesday, felt big anyway only 6'' of worm was left : (

[Dan:]

Ya'll do realize there are ramps at Mattowoman, right?

;D

[steveb1]

Ya'll do realize there are ramps at Mattowoman, right?

;D

But where's the fun in that? Thousands of people are paying big money to get into Six Flags, for a ride we're getting for the cost of gas.

[Nitrofreak]

Good thing I saw this post I was considering a trip there but with a 17' Nitro I think I will have to pass.

Thanks for the info.

[mudkart]

Good thing I saw this post I was considering a trip there but with a 17' Nitro I think I will have to pass.

Thanks for the info.

Geez, if you want to fish there, just do it.  I've been there and back again on the P'mac in 17' glass boats with absolutely no worries, and I know I'm not the only one.  I've seen guys do the run from leesylvania to mattawoman in Trackers.  Common sense applies, however, so don't make that run in 20 knot winds.

[egolfer]

I run the river in a 16.5 G# with a 40hp.  I do it weekly.  I was out few weeks ago in those 30-40mph winds, but have learned where to run and where to fish in those conditions.  I think the smaller and slower boat that I run makes it a little easier to control whereas in a bigger faster boat, you more likely to spear one.  Having said that, I will probably spear one this weekend and they are only calling for 5mph winds. 

[RockvilleMDAngler]

I have made the run fromo Leesylvania to Mattawoman numerous times in bad weather and I only have a 16'2" Skeeter with a 90hp Yamaha.  Once I got caught in a totally unexpected hailstorm and had to run from Neabsco to Marshall Hall in a dark-as-night heavy storm.  I should have just stayed in Neabsco until the storm passed but I was new to boating and panicked.

[egolfer]

OUch, across and up.  That sounds interesting. 

When I see a storm rolling in, I head to the nearest protected dock or shore, tie the boat up, and walk up to the shore.  I'll just hunker down in my rain gear and wait for the nasty stuff pass. 

[hawghuntin]

Good thing I saw this post I was considering a trip there but with a 17' Nitro I think I will have to pass.

Thanks for the info.

You will get around fine in a 17' Nitro. If you get caught in a "small boat in big water situation" just slow down and use your head. If its been blowing steady you're probably not going to be out there so the worst situations you will probably encounter are micro bursts/thunderstorms that can roll through anywhere or specifically at Mattawomen if the tide is pushing hard and the wind starts howling in the right direction the waves can stack up. If you see the weather changing fast seek shelter (it's hard to put the rods down when the bite really picks up right before a storm!) and if you're entering/exiting a tributary where the waves are stacked up at the mouth try to stay in the channel because the waves will lay down in the deeper water.

[Nitrofreak]

Thanks all..

I have very little experience on tidal waters and that I guess is what has me concerned not that I have not had it on some pretty rough waters but usually I have my wife with me and it would most likely scare her to death.

Sorry about that I should have been a little clearer.