Northeast Division Springs Into Action on the Potomac
MARBURY, Md. – This year, the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Northeast Division gets the season underway on the Potomac River in early May, which should be a fun spawn time event. From there, the division hits the Potomac again, and then rolls north to New York for conclude the season on some of the best smallmouth and largemouth fisheries in the country.
Tournament Details
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Northeast Division
Marbury, Md.
May 7, 2022
How the Fishery Sets Up
Running roughly north to south, the Potomac is a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Up above Washington, D.C., the river is shallow, rocky and home to some smallmouths – below that, the tide begins to take effect and the river broadens out. Where most tournaments are won, from about D.C. in the north to Potomac Creek in the south, there is a healthy population of largemouths living anywhere from the very backs of creeks to the grass beds smack on the main river.
What to Expect
In May, bass on the Potomac should be getting ready to spawn, and Aaron Dixon reckons the season opener for the Northeast Division will be a good one.
“Right now they’re a little bit behind, there’s a BFL coming on the 23rd in the Shenandoah Division, I don’t think they’ll quite be on bed for that one. I’m making the one on the 7th, and I’m actually way more excited for that one because I think there’s gonna be a big wave pushing up at that time,” said the young Maryland pro. “The water just warmed up about 12 degrees in the last week, so they’re still working on pushing up. I don’t think they’re quite ready to spawn on this moon, on the next one I think there are going to be some good bags and a lot of fish caught.”
The variability of the grass on the Potomac is always a concern, and Dixon says that this year the river is off to a good start. But, he cautions that just fishing grass will leave out the spawning bite.
“There are a few areas with really good grass, if the weather stays sunny and warm, it could grow pretty quick, we might even have some topped out on low tide by then,” said Dixon. “But, there are only a few areas, so there will be a lot of boats piled up in them. I’m sure the guys that find a spot within the spot, whether it’s a ditch or a patch of shell within the grass, they’re going to have to hang out there all day. Another player is going to be the guys that run around and find fish on beds and not necessarily have to see them, but shake them off and come back.”
Spawning events on tidal waters can be tricky to time, and tricky to identify, because the fish tend to spawn a bit deeper than normal for protection from the tide. Still, Dixon believes it can be a player, both fishing for unseen spawners and sometimes getting to eye ‘em up.
“They spawn in about 2-foot of water on low tide, so if the tide gets low that day there definitely can be some sight-fishing, especially if the grass comes up and the milfoil keeps it clean,” he said. “I definitely have sight-fished some really good fish on the river.”
Baits and Techniques
As far as how to catch the fish, Dixon thinks the winding staples will work, but won’t be the only thing going.
“There are definitely going to be a lot caught on ChatterBaits and swim jigs, that’ll bring in a lot of 15- or 16-pound limits,” said Dixon. “But, the guys that work slow and use their confidence bait, I think that will put them up in the top five or let them shoot for a win.”
There’s also the potential for a topwater to catch a kicker or two, especially if the grass grows well.
“I know a couple guys that will throw a popper real slow,” said Dixon. “If the milfoil is topped out on low tide, and it stays semi-clean, people will throw a popper and chug it in the holes. It may not catch a lot of fish, but it can catch some of the bigger ones.”