Fishing in DC

[ncbill]

I'm going to be in DC late next week hanging out while my wife is in a conference and wondered if anyone knew of any places I could fish.  I will have a car but no access to a boat.  Any help would be appreciated.

[Sam]

With all there is to do in DC and you want to go fishing?

Try the Spy Museum. Its great!

Tour the Smithsonian.

However, if you are looking for places to fish you may not find any in DC.

You may have to travel to Northern Virginia or Maryland to find places to fish from the bank and there are a lot of guys from NOVA on this site who can help you.

Traffic in NOVA and DC is bad on a good day so make your plans and leave early, bring food and drink with you and be ready to sit in traffic. 

[kiko13]

However, if you are looking for places to fish you may not find any in DC.

Really?

Get a DC license....$6.50 for out of towners.

Fish the Tidal Basin for many species (striper, crappie, bass, catfish, snakehead...).

Go to Fletcher's and ask the guys at the shack to see what is biting on the river or canals.

If you like to wade (wet), you can do so at Gravely Point which is technically in VA just across the 14th St Bridge. The in/out flow just south of the ramps gets a lot of attention.

Or....Google up the carp fishing that some guys do off Haines Point, they had an international competition there a few years back.

That's just a few for starters.

Ernie

[VolFan]

Go to Fletcher's Boathouse, buy your license there, and then fish the canal and the Chain Bridge area. Easy walking and plenty of room. You can toss a decent cast across the canal, but it's got some decent bass.  The area around Chain Bridge you could catch just about anything, striper, snakehead, smb, lmb, walleye, crappie, yellow perch, white perch, gar, blue cats, channel cats, panfish, shad, and an occasional musky.  Did I miss anything in that list guys?

[bartoopuck]

roosevelt island is not bad either.

[basspro96]

George Washingtons house..Right on the Potomac and a huge grass mat in front of it! Haha!

[Sam]

Bill, yes - there is the canal and river but I have never heard of anyone having success in these places for largemouth bass.

Maybe Volfan and others have done well. if so, they can fill you in on what to throw and the best places.

Call Fletchers before you head to DC and find out if you can rent a canoe or rowboat and how the fishing is going in the area.

Boathouse at Fletchers Cove

4940 Canal Road, NW

Washington, DC

202.244.0461

Please get a DC license as I am told you can be checked for your fishing license.

Check out Google Maps for a map of DC and you can see the places the guys are talking about.

I was not clear in my post. I was thinking of ponds and office parks in the DC area to fish for bass. The basin and river are not my cup of tea.

Guys in NOVA and DC, can you fish the reservoir around Howard University? it think it is the McMillian Reservoir.

Good luck and I still suggest visiting the Spy Museum (call first to get on the list) and the other sites in DC.

Let us know how you do. 

[Sam]

VolFan, yes, you missed dead bodies on your list!!!  ;D   ;D   ;D

[Bigs]

washington sailing marina is a good lil spot to catch quality bass but its shallow and right now in  the heat you might not catch much, worth a try tho

[VolFan]

I wouldn't do McMillian without an escort.    Although you may get a body out of there. 

My wife and I have had good success in the canal, mostly early and late and on stormy days.  Good things are flipping plastics into the brush when the sun os up and topwaters (we likle buzzbaits) early and late.  Spinnerbaits are always useful.  Rent a rowboat if you want to have a good day of flipping.  You could also fish down Haynes Point along the stone shore walls. Jigs around the broken spots will take lmb and some noce smallies.  Lots of places to fish in DC without crossing the river.

[Bill U]

One thing I would add is if you are fishing in DC definitely get a DC license. If you fish the Potomac along the MD/VA line you need to have either a VA or MD license. From the VA DGIF

site:

"Resident anglers with state freshwater licenses in Virginia or Maryland may fish the Potomac River and from both banks."

The thing is DC doesn't have the same regs, technically you are supposed to have a DC license even if you are standing on the VA shore fishing the Potomac along the VA/DC border.

I never understood why that is until I emailed a guy from the VA DFIG about consuming fish from the Potomac. (btw, I wouldn't consume anything out of the Potomac, I was just curious) He told me to get a hold of someone from Maryland's Department of Natural Resources because Virginia doesn't have jurisdiction along the Potomac River. Basically the MD state line goes all the way across the river, so once you step into the Potomac you are technically in MD, or in DC as the case may be. Of course that doesn't include the inland waters of VA such as Pohick Bay.

So in short if you have a VA or MD license you can fish the Potomac from either shore along the stretches that are between VA and MD. If you fish the Potomac anywhere along the DC border you need to have a DC license.

I hope that is not too confusing!

I agree though, Fletchers Boat House is the place to start.

Also if you have the money and he has the availability Steve Chaconas is supposed to be one of the best guides out here.