Fishing Forecast
The Fisheries and Wildlife Division is now posting seasonal fishing forecasts, which will be updated on a seasonal basis.
SUMMER 2000
Scientific Findings
The Fisheries and Wildlife Division of the Government of the District of Columbia conducts several surveys on the waters of the Potomac River, Anacostia River, and Rock Creek to observe and ensure that the fish populations of the District of Columbia are healthy and protected. Survey findings for the year 2000 already suggest near record growth of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and productive spawns and hatches of many fish species including Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Perch, Black Crappie, White Perch, Blueback Herring, Alewives, Carp, and Goldfish. Findings are confirmed by the presence of mature adults during electrofishing studies, and later by the collection of eggs, larvae, and fry by using ichthyoplankton trawls and beach seining. By looking at total numbers of young of year (YOY) for each species, biologists can estimate the success of the spawn and predict the future health of fish populations.
Potomac River
Summer patterns are in full swing for the waters of the District of Columbia. Water temperatures in the low to mid-80's have chased many of the anadromous spawners from this region. You will be hard-pressed to find great numbers of keeper size Rockfish, White Perch, or River Herring, but their young are present everywhere as they use the grass beds of the District as a nursery as well as provide forage for the resident game species that remain.
The Potomac River is going to offer the best opportunities to catch fish during the summer months. Let's start at the Wilson Bridge area and move upriver. As always the grass beds in this section of the river are the prime targets and for good reason. Whether you seek bass or catfish, this is where the action is.
The large mat in the middle of the river just north of the Wilson Bridge is one of the most productive and one of the most heavily fished areas on the river. The combination of hydrilla, coontail, and milfoil provide the bass with endless ambush points where they await easy meals in the form of young of year river herring. These little herrings are currently about the size, shape, and color of a nickel #3 spinner blade. For this reason spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are an obvious choice when you have a high falling tide (1/8 oz. - 3/8 oz.).
White or chartreuse skirts on a tandem willow spinnerbait can be deadly. Just "chunk and wind" to any open lane, pocket, or point that you can spot in the grass. If you have low light conditions leave the spinner bait alone and burn the buzzbait or walk your favorite popping bug. Buzzbaits with a large blade can be worked a little slower if the fish are missing the faster varieties. Any way you go hang on, but don't set the hook until you feel the fish. Topwaters in the grass result in some awesome water explosions and many missed opportunities for the anxious angler.
If the water is extremely high you can run "baby minus ones" over the top of the grass; however, the fish are normally a little more active when the receding water starts to pull the baitfish into the ambush spots. As the tide falls and the spinnerbait lanes close up, start pitching worms to the pockets and edge of the grass bed. Four-inch varieties of Power baits seem to be the Hot Lick this year, but any worm will do if you have confidence in it.
Several anglers in this region actually like to use a 10-inch power worm in motor oil color because it looks so much like a small eel. Probably not a bad idea considering electrofishing studies from this area show good numbers of American eels in DC grass beds. Jig and Pig combinations can be used in areas where there is a channel nearby or a piece of wood stuck in the middle of the grass, but they do tend to get caught in the weeds much more often than the worms. Another way to fool the grass bass is with the wacky worm. This is a technique that takes a straight tail "Crème" style worm and has about a 3/0 worm hook right through the egg sac. Simply pitch the worm into a pocket and let it slowly sink, then lift gently on the rod causing the worm to pulse toward you in a U shape. Watch your line with the wacky rig. Many times you never feel the fish suck up the bait; you just see your line try to escape into the grass bed. I know this isn't the most exciting lure in your box, but trust me: the fish seem to like it.
There are some hard cover opportunities in this area at Fox Ferry Point and in Spoils Cove, but we will cover them more thoroughly in the late summer-fall report. That's not to say that these areas aren't worth a pass with your favorite crankbait or jig, but usually the fish don't "stack" on these areas during the summer. Moving upriver from the "big matt" on your right, you will see the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility. This discharge area has been one of the most productive spots on the entire river and certainly one of the best "Big Fish" spots in DC. Because of the intense pressure applied here over the past several years, finesse tactics have become very popular.
It used to be a common practice to pitch a big jig with a seven-inch porko as a trailer, but those days are gone for the most part. Now dead sticking a finesse worm on light line has taken over, and for those who spend the time here and understand where the fish position according to the tide it can be very productive. Moving up from Blue Plains, both shorelines are covered with grass. The Virginia shoreline is dominated with "wild celery" and "stargrass" and has some opportunities but seems to be visited by large numbers of small bass, perch, and huge gar. Electrofishing surveys here support this claim. On the District side of the river all the way from Blue Plains up to the pier at the Naval Research Laboratory is a grass bed dominated with milfoil. The action here is sporadic but can be great at times.
Use the same methods for grass bass that were discussed earlier but don't forget to pitch a worm or small jig to that big pier. It has been known to give up plenty of fish and quite a few smallmouth. Moving past the pier we come to a riprap shoreline that will continue all the way up to the mouth of the Anacostia River. There are scattered patches of grass here and some distinct rocky points that hold small numbers of bass, both largemouth and smallmouth.
The real opportunity here is with catfish. The river channel runs close to the shore and the drop-off can offer a chance to hook into a really big channel or blue cat. Bottom-fishing with cut bait seems to be the preferred method, but don't hesitate to try chicken livers or soft-shell crab. Access to the Air Force Base will offer some nice shoreline areas where a surf rod rigged with 17# line and a two-ounce sinker can get you onto that channel drop-off. Directly across from this shoreline is Reagan National Airport. There is a beautiful grass bed right off the runway peninsula, but be warned this is an area that can be accessed by boat only and beaching your vessel here is prohibited. Use the same grass bass techniques discussed earlier with one addition.
If you have a high tide here you can get on the inside edge of the grass and have some success with bass that are cruising the shallows. A shallow running crankbait works nicely here as the grass is not as thick, but as soon as the water recedes, get to the outside edge of the grass to score on some potentially large fish. This particular area also offers some fine catfishing. Position your boat just off the grass bed in about six to eight feet of water and hang on. A ½ oz. slip sinker rig baited with soft-shell crab is all you need to score on some sweet channel cat in the three to eight pound range. Clam snouts and cut bait also work well. Moving up the river the shorelines on both sides will become either sea walls or riprap shorelines. There's still plenty of grass and techniques are the same, but now there are plenty of shoreline opportunities. If you want catfish simply cast to the outside edge of the grass beds from the shore and you can find success. If you do have a boat the many bridge pilings offer a new type of cover to explore.
Crankbaits and worms around the foundations are usually most productive. You will have to experiment with different pilings to try to establish what depth the fish are holding at on a given day. Continuing up river we come to a no wake marker. The remainder of the tidal river has a strictly enforced six mile-per-hour speed limit. Please obey these markers as this area of the river is used by a multitude of "crewers," "yackers," and canoeists. Summertime in this area means ultralight gear, 4# line and two-inch power grubs in black, chartreuse, or pumpkinseed. Commonly caught fish are redbreast sunfish, bluegill, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass. Grass is prevalent around Roosevelt Island and can make navigation difficult. Fish the edges of the grass beds as well as the several rock outcroppings that exist here.
Moving upriver the grasses subside because of the terrain. The shorelines become steep rocky banks that descend sharply into the water. Use caution here if there have been recent rains because of the strong flows and water surplus coming from upstream. As you move up target any and all unusual rock points, cuts, or coves. Any irregular shoreline feature could provide the home for a feisty smallmouth. As you cast toward the shoreline let the grub fall on its own when it hits the water. Some of the bluffs you'll be casting to go straight down for 30 feet and the bass can be suspended anywhere in the water column. Be patient and consistent and you will be rewarded with little smallmouths that are just waiting to give you an aerial display. Most of these bass will not meet the required 12-inch summertime limit, but a fish up to 15 inches is not uncommon. For daily information on this area of the river you can call Joe Fletcher at Fletcher's Boathouse at (202) 244-0461.
Anacostia River
The Anacostia in the summer is home to many species of fish; however, the only one sought after with any consistency is the channel catfish. There are plenty of shoreline opportunities in Anacostia Park. Surf rods are commonly used to get anglers far off the shore into the river channel. A double bottom rig baited with clam snouts, cut bait, or crab seems to be the best bait for catfish. If you have trouble keeping your bait on the hook while casting, try a product called "magic thread." This very thin elastic fiber can be used to tie your bait onto the hook without affecting the way the fish bite. Please observe the catfish health advisory printed on the District of Columbia Regulation booklet.
Rock Creek
Rock Creek offers opportunity for the ultra light enthusiast with species such as smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, fallfish, and redbreast sunfish readily taking tiny lures. Two-inch power grubs, small spinners, and jerk baits are among the most successful summertime lures. The most productive areas are the deeper pools just below riffle areas. The water is normally clear so a quiet approach and accurate casting is required to be effective. Rock Creek is for the sportsman not the meat hunter. You certainly won't fill your creel with whoppers, but you can have a lot of fun with an ultra light rod and reel in a tranquil setting.
