The Potomac

[KWM]

Ok, First off I was told by some co workers that if I eat a fish from the potomac river that I would catch something and die.

The second is can I wade anywhere?  Or at least check the depth or does it just drop off?

and Thrid I was told not to wade because tons of people die in the Potomac every year.

Can anyone clear up all of this, because I heard from tons of people that the Potomac is one of the greats rivers to fish in the SE.

[Carrington]

for the eating fish, i have never heard anything bad about their but i could be wrong, now the james which is about 2 hours south of you is a different story, back in the 70's they dumped all sort of stuff in their and banned eating the fish for a while but people still dont eat the stuff to this day in certain sections of the river.

[BassShephard]

I think the Potomac has high mercury in some places and something else but you should be ok long as you don't eat to many fish.  Around here they have some warnings about mercury and you shouldnt eat but so many a month, I don't eat them so I'm not sure on the specifics.

[A.Do?]

I think its safe to wade in the potomac. I see people wading it all the time and I even wade the upper parts every summer.

here's a link to virginia's fish consumption advisory

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/dee/publichealthtoxicology/advisories/

[Dan:]

It all depends on what you are fishing for and where you are fishing. Upper Potomac is very wadeable in most areas. Almost all of DC is not wadeable. Tidal Potomac is wadeable in some areas but made a little difficult by the mucky bottom.

The Upper Potomac (above Great Falls) is rocky and mostly shallow with some deeper holes. The DC portion (below Little Falls and above WW Bridge) is deeper...up by Fletcher's Cove and Chain Bridge the channel varies from 30 to nearly 80 ft deep. The tidal Potomac below the WW Bridge is very shallow. Besides the river channel, it's mostly less than 10' deep. The shallow water also makes the tidal section VERY, VERY, VERY vegetative. In the summer the lower river is absolutely full of weeds. It is a fantastic place to fish frogs.

[VekolBass]

Never wade in the tidal Potomac. The bottom in many areas is a grayish goo, and you will sink in up to your knees. You may also find it difficult to free yourself. Wading is a great way to catch fish in the summertime in places like the upper Rappahannock or the South Fork of the Shenandoah. Not the tidal Potomac in winter--or anytime for that matter.

As far as eating the fish, follow the fish consumption advisory that a previous poster supplied and you will be fine.

[KWM]

Never wade in the tidal Potomac. The bottom in many areas is a grayish goo, and you will sink in up to your knees. You may also find it difficult to free yourself. Wading is a great way to catch fish in the summertime in places like the upper Rappahannock or the South Fork of the Shenandoah. Not the tidal Potomac in winter--or anytime for that matter.

As far as eating the fish, follow the fish consumption advisory that a previous poster supplied and you will be fine.

Not at places like goose creek and around Riverbend park and that one park that starts with an A? 

[mudkart]

Never wade in the tidal Potomac. The bottom in many areas is a grayish goo, and you will sink in up to your knees. You may also find it difficult to free yourself. Wading is a great way to catch fish in the summertime in places like the upper Rappahannock or the South Fork of the Shenandoah. Not the tidal Potomac in winter--or anytime for that matter.

As far as eating the fish, follow the fish consumption advisory that a previous poster supplied and you will be fine.

Not at places like goose creek and around Riverbend park and that one park that starts with an A?

Algonkian is the word you're looking for, and none of those are "tidal", i.e. they lie above Great Falls and thus have no tidal influence.

[Addicted to Smallies]

KWM, I wade the upper Potomac all the time in the late spring through mid-fall.  See my other post in your other thread for the best spots.   As for consumption, I would not eat anything out of the Potomac, although others do.  However, my "maximum tolerable pollutant load" is zero... anything above that isn't worth it to me, no matter what the government agencies may say.

As for wading, I'm not trying to sound like your mom, but trust me... WEAR A LIFE JACKET when you wade the Upper.  It's very easy to wade fish, but as others have said, there are a lot of deep pools and fall-offs.  Even at low water times, I have stepped into numerous deep pools without even realize it... my jacket has saved me a couple of times.

Also, for your reference "Upper Potomac" means above Great Falls, and "Lower Potomac" means anywhere below that, but more generally refers to the area downriver of DC.  Upper = Very Good Smallmouth Fishing, Lower=Better Largemouth Fishing. 

[Addicted to Smallies]

I forgot to mention, Steve Moore has a self-published book called "Wade Fishing the Upper Potomac - Chain Bridge to Harpers Ferry" that might help you out if you're really interested in some wading spots on the Upper.

[Dan:]

There are some places where people will commonly wade in the tidal section but as Vekol said, in most places that goo makes it more of a hassle than it's worth.

[KWM]

KWM, I wade the upper Potomac all the time in the late spring through mid-fall. See my other post in your other thread for the best spots. As for consumption, I would not eat anything out of the Potomac, although others do. However, my "maximum tolerable pollutant load" is zero... anything above that isn't worth it to me, no matter what the government agencies may say.

As for wading, I'm not trying to sound like your mom, but trust me... WEAR A LIFE JACKET when you wade the Upper. It's very easy to wade fish, but as others have said, there are a lot of deep pools and fall-offs. Even at low water times, I have stepped into numerous deep pools without even realize it... my jacket has saved me a couple of times.

Also, for your reference "Upper Potomac" means above Great Falls, and "Lower Potomac" means anywhere below that, but more generally refers to the area downriver of DC. Upper = Very Good Smallmouth Fishing, Lower=Better Largemouth Fishing.

Good thinking on the life jacket!   ;D