Wading for Smallies in the Potomac

[Addicted to Smallies]

How may of you guys (or gals) wade for smallies during the summer in the Potomac? I've been out every day for the last 5 days (vacation days are awesome!) and have been the only person wading that I've seen... several shore fishermen, but no waders.

Not asking for your trade secrets, but anyone care to share some good general locations with decent river access?

I'll start things off:

I like the section along the Virginia side upriver of Goose Creek about 1/2 mile. Nice combo of pools and decent current when the water is up, and the pools hold nice fish when it's low-water and hot. Caught 18 smallies along that stretch there in about 2 hours on Monday, the best going about 3.1 lbs (my PB for a smallmouth, pic below. Guess you can tell what lure I was using.) But in the same spot on Tuesday, got skunked.

Riverbend Park - Easy to get to with a nice trail, and I've heard others say it's great if you head upriver from the boat launch to the islands (right in the bend of the river), but I've never caught anything bigger than a 10oz fish along there. Good numbers and a great place to go if you only have a couple of hours, but definitely quantity over quality in my opinion.

Anyone else care to share?

[fishguts]

I used to wade quite a bit around Point-of-Rocks. We parked on the MD side and walked up the C&O trail a little bit. You can also wade a good ways up from the VA side.

[rondef]

Nice Smallie.

[A.Do?]

I love wading for smallies but haven't had the chance to this year. Definitely trying to go sometime soon though. be nice to cool off. Very nice smallie! I'll be sure to share some info once I develop some.....

[Addicted to Smallies]

Point of Rocks has been pretty good for me in the past, too, Fishguts.  But the banks are SO crowded these days it seems.  There were probably 50 bank fishermen and their families along there when I was there last time -- all within about 250 meters of the boat launch, though.  Upstream was less crowded, but the vegetation was pretty thick.  Other than a few dinks, I didn't catch anything but salad.

Thanks for the compliments on the fish, guys!  Yeah, that is the nicest smallmouth I've ever caught.  He put up quite a fight on my 4# test, light spinning tackle!  I am amazed at how a 3# river smallie can pull!  I've pulled in 7# largemouuth that didn't pull 1/4 as hard as this guy!

BTW, these are the GPS coordinates where I hooked him.  Like I said, there weren't ANY fish there the next day, though.  Lat/Lon: 39.103789,-77.478161  (in Google Maps format, look for the GREEN arrow on the map, not the red one) This section is a somewhat deeper channel that runs between two nice rocky flats with scattered river grass.

Anyone else willing to share the coordiates of their own PB fish? 

[kiko13]

A to S- come to the next  Potomac River Smallmouth Club meeting on Wed., August 25 at  7:15pm at the Vienna Firestation.

Steve Moore is the featured speaker and has written a book about wading in the area.

Ernie

[Addicted to Smallies]

Thanks, Kiko!  Sounds like a great time... if I can get the work situation squared away that day, then I'll be there.

[NHBA Charlie]

You might want to try the area off the Dickerson Power Plant. Go across the Route 15 bridge and turn right on Route 28. Take this to Mouth of Monocacy Road. Turn right and continue to the Boat Ramp at the mouth of the Monocacy River. Walk down the bank to the Potomac and wade. BE CAREFUL!  There are many ledges here running perpendicular to the shoreline. There are lots of 2-4# smallmouth in this section.

[Pikesnogle]

Point of Rocks has been pretty good for me in the past, too, Fishguts. But the banks are SO crowded these days it seems. There were probably 50 bank fishermen and their families along there when I was there last time -- all within about 250 meters of the boat launch, though. Upstream was less crowded, but the vegetation was pretty thick. Other than a few dinks, I didn't catch anything but salad.

Thanks for the compliments on the fish, guys! Yeah, that is the nicest smallmouth I've ever caught. He put up quite a fight on my 4# test, light spinning tackle! I am amazed at how a 3# river smallie can pull! I've pulled in 7# largemouuth that didn't pull 1/4 as hard as this guy!

BTW, these are the GPS coordinates where I hooked him. Like I said, there weren't ANY fish there the next day, though. Lat/Lon: 39.103789,-77.478161 (in Google Maps format, look for the GREEN arrow on the map, not the red one) This section is a somewhat deeper channel that runs between two nice rocky flats with scattered river grass.

Anyone else willing to share the coordiates of their own PB fish?

I had a lot of luck up by Kipheart Bridge Park, where Goose Creek and the Potomac meet early in the season. With the water levels soo low, I haven't really given it a try lately. Last time I went out the vegetation was very thick and it was tough to fish.

I caught my personal best SM at this location, just a touch smaller than your fish in this thread at 2lbs. 12oz. Nice fish by the way, she's a beaut.

-Snogle

[Addicted to Smallies]

Snogle, I've had good luck there in spring / early summer, too.  But I was out there a few days ago and with water levels low, the weeds were TERRIBLE.  Had to wade out 35-50' from shore and fish the rocks of the main channel just to get out of the salad.  Unless you're pitching a heavy Texas rigged lure for largemouth, I think the weeds are too think there this time of the season (or at least too thick for my preferred smallmouth light tackle spinning rig.)

What about Goose Creek itself?  Ever have any luck there?  I've tried it a few times, but have never found anything bigger than a 8-9oz fish in the typical eddies / pools below currents.  Are there any decent size fish further up Goose Creek from the Potomac?

[Pikesnogle]

I've caught a bunch of the same size in Goose Creek (8-10oz). With the occasional fish that is maybe 3/4lb to a lb. But I haven't caught anything bigger than that.

From what I hear the big ones are there, just few and far between. Guy on the forum said that either him or a buddy ( I don't remember which) caught a 19" smallie in Goose Creek. That's a nice fish! I think that it has to do with water levels, and the time of year though. But what do I know? I am just along for the ride.  ;D