2017 Potomac River Preview
Marbury, Md.
June 15-18, 2017
Hosted by Charles County Board of Commissioners
About the Fishery
Time and tide wait for no man, and that’s especially true for bass anglers on the lower Potomac River and its feeder streams. Hit the right spot at the right time in the daily cycle of tides, and a fisherman can put himself in a position to win. Miss the mark, and finish back in the pack.
The tidewater fishery is known for producing good limits of bass for those anglers who can master the ups and downs of its daily water fluctuations. Though it’s not a simple problem to solve, the general approach is to fish the abundant aquatic vegetation when it’s flooded by the tide, and fish the outside edges, ditches and scattered depressions when the tide is pulling out.
Last Time
In June 2015, Texas pro Clark Wendlandt became the prince of tides when he won with 60 pounds. Tennessee angler Andy Morgan claimed second with 55 pounds, 12 ounces. As was the case with just about everyone who finished in the top 10, Wendlandt’s winning arsenal consisted mainly of jigs with soft-plastic crawfish trailers and Z-Man ChatterBaits wiggled through the big beds of hydrilla, elodea, eelgrass and the like.
What to Expect this Time
A quick check of the tidal predictions for the Potomac in June reveals incoming tides in the morning and falling tides beginning in the early afternoon. That being the case, the winner will need to maintain a 15-pound daily average to fend off competitors.
Baits and Techniques
- Flipping baits – Jigs and trailers fished by patient anglers who run the tides and pick apart grass beds always do well on the lower Potomac.
- Reaction baits – If the water is dingy or plenty of fish are staked out in shoreline wood cover, look for spinnerbaits, small shallow-running crankbaits and vibrating jigs to produce the top stringers.
3 Critical Factors
1. Dirty water – Coastal storms can muddy up the Potomac tidewater area in a hurry, especially in the numerous creeks and coves where some lucky anglers are likely to find bass that haven’t been too pressured by the locals.
2. Wind – Depending on which way it blows, wind can increase or decrease tidal flowage and effectively make the fishing better – or worse.
3. Grass – As in other fisheries, aquatic vegetation comes and goes in the Potomac estuary. Likewise, as the forage-rich cover changes, anglers might find that areas that yielded good stringers in previous years might not be as productive this time around.
Fantasy Fishing Picks
David Dudley, Clark Wendlandt, Jim Moynagh, Scott Martin, Andy Morgan, Bryan Schmitt – take your pick. All those anglers have either won Potomac River tournaments or finished in the top 10 in recent years.