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Fishing Potomac River (Upper): what the data says
Hancock to Williamsport. classic upper Potomac smallmouth ledges with a growing muskie fishery. The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Potomac River (Upper)
Spring smallmouth bass on Potomac River (Upper) hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 2.5): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Potomac River (Upper)
Spring channel catfish on Potomac River (Upper) hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Dam No. 5 tailrace: a creek channel around 8 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday |
Walleye fishing at Potomac River (Upper)
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Williamsport Power Plant Dam tailrace: a dam tailrace around 9 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Muskellunge fishing at Potomac River (Upper)
In spring, muskellunge run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 2.5): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dusk | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Common Carp fishing at Potomac River (Upper)
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Tailout eddy (mile 28.3): a eddy pocket around 6 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Williamsport Power Plant Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Dam Number 5 tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Dam No. 5 tailrace: creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 28.3): eddy pocket, around 6 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 21.7): eddy pocket, around 6 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 4.3): current seam, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 8.1): current seam, around 6 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 2.5): rock pile, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Potomac River (Upper)?
Potomac River (Upper) is about 10 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Potomac River (Upper)?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, muskellunge, common carp on Potomac River (Upper).
Where is the best fishing spot on Potomac River (Upper)?
Riffle & run (mile 2.5) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Potomac River (Upper)?
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Little Seneca Lake · Liberty Reservoir · T. Howard Duckett Reservoir · Prettyboy Reservoir · Deep Creek Lake · Gunpowder Falls
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