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Fishing Potomac River (Tidal): what the data says
Washington, D.C. to Mattawoman Creek. the tidal Potomac’s famous grass beds: trophy largemouth, blue catfish, spring stripers and the invasive snakehead “Frankenfish.” The river tops out around 40 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Largemouth Bass fishing at Potomac River (Tidal)
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. Piscataway flats is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring largemouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Northern Snakehead fishing at Potomac River (Tidal)
In spring, northern snakehead run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. The spot to know is Piscataway flats, a weed flat in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for northern snakehead in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a hollow-body frog or a buzzbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | Hollow-body frog, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 1 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Hollow-body frog, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Frog, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Soft plastic (slow), Blade bait |
Blue Catfish fishing at Potomac River (Tidal)
In spring, blue catfish run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 10 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 40 ft. Potomac shipping channel is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 30 ft, rated prime for summer blue catfish. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday |
Channel Catfish fishing at Potomac River (Tidal)
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 40 ft. Mattawoman Creek mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday |
Striped Bass fishing at Potomac River (Tidal)
Spring striped bass on Potomac River (Tidal) hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 12 to 40 ft, and by winter most fish are in 12 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Mattawoman Creek mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flutter spoon (deep) or a umbrella rig (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
White Perch fishing at Potomac River (Tidal)
In spring, white perch run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 40 ft, and winter fish settle into 12 to 40 ft. Mattawoman Creek mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring white perch. Best bite is early morning. A small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | dawn | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | dusk | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Potomac River (Tidal) also holds crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Main-channel hole (mile 11.2): creek channel, around 32 ft
- Potomac shipping channel: creek channel, around 30 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.7): creek channel, around 30 ft
- Current seam (mile 0.6): current seam, around 22 ft
- Slackwater eddy (mile 7.5): eddy pocket, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 9.3): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 14.9): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 16.8): current seam, around 22 ft
- Channel current seam (mile 2.5): current seam, around 20 ft
- Channel current seam (mile 13.1): current seam, around 20 ft
- Mattawoman Creek mouth: inflow / creek mouth, around 8 ft
- Piscataway flats: weed flat, around 5 ft
- Chicamuxen grass beds: grass line, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Potomac River (Tidal)?
Potomac River (Tidal) is about 40 ft (12 m) deep 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 (Tidal)?
Anglers target largemouth bass, northern snakehead, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, striped bass, blue catfish, common carp, white perch on Potomac River (Tidal).
Where is the best fishing spot on Potomac River (Tidal)?
Piscataway flats is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth 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 (Tidal)?
For largemouth 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
Clopper Lake · T. Howard Duckett Reservoir · Little Seneca Lake · Piney Run Lake · Liberty Reservoir · Monocacy River
See how Potomac River (Tidal) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Maryland · best crappie lakes in Maryland · best bluegill lakes in Maryland · best channel catfish lakes in Maryland
Browse all Maryland fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.