Fresh Woodbridge Fishing Reports

Blue cats everywhere! Book a Potomac river charter today! Dates available this fall!

The end of september begins a transistion on the potomac river where grass bed mats attract the biggest bass of the year. Why ? Because grass beneath the mats has died giving access to the biggest bass on the river to pursue their favorite food - crayfish. Earlier in the year - hydrilla flats are inaccessible to fish and fishermen. The edges of these grass flats are heavily pressured. Things change rapidly on the potomac and the first sign that the grass flats are changing are the presence of seagulls. Seagulls mean food is on top of mats and now the next ingredient is dying grass to create tunnels beneath the mats. Once the two ingrediants mix - the recipe is complete for big bass on hollow body frogs. These conditions dont last long but when they do exist - its the best and most exciting fishing of the year. The end of septembet until last of october will find me throwing a frog on mats. Call me to book a half day trip to exoerience and learn this exciting brand of fishing.

The fall brings cooler water tempertures to the tidal Potomac River and that means one thing - schooling striped bass in shallow water. The tidal Potomac has surprisingly good striped bass fishing that runs from October to December. The fish school on points on the river and tributaries as they feed on Alewives and small baitfish. Birds often snitch on tbe bass school locations. Low light and moving tides are the best times to target these fish with light tackle and swimbaits. The cool crisp air, an empty river is a great exoerience and a memory to carry through the winter

The good fisherman and the bad fisherman have completely different skill sets but the exact same expectations. Hiring a sports fishing guide that uses strictly lures for game fish on the Potomac River doesn’t provide a guarantee of catching fish. The skill of the client will be a big factor in success. I can provide instruction and assist anyone evolve on their fishing but if the person who has never cast a rod ir tied a knot is hiring me to strictly catch a fish - i msy not be the best choice. I woukd recommend a blue catfish guide or somone of that ilk where live bait and minimal casting is the paradigm. That being said- august certainly provides challenges with high water tempertures and heavy aquatic grasses. The early morning hours and late afternoon with low outgoing tides will privide your best opportunity to catch fish with top water baits or plastics thrown to weed edges. The bass will be on deeper edges with current. The snakeheads will be on outside or inside edges when biting. The challenge is that thick hydrilla provides inaccessible cover for snakeheads and if they arent on the edges then they wont be caught. I believe fishing should be fun but that can only be accomplished with realistic expectations. If yoi go golfing with an rcpert golfer - do you expect to shoot 68 ? No .. your ability will not increase but you will learn to be a better golfer. Life isnt a u-tube video or a facebook post- there is still realty. I always do my best but its important to ask yourself what u want in a guided trip - what is the ecperience you want from fishing. Its important to read the giudes profile. I dont guarantee anything in fishing and if you of lirtle experience that has no interest in learning sports fishing then you should look for guides that provide trips for abundant species with live bait. Fishing is a total experience so find the experience thst neets your fishing abilities and expectations.

My boat has literally caught hundreds of northern snakeheads on artificial lures. Ive spent hundred and hundreds of hours on the potomac river specifically targeting northern snakeheads. Ive been on dnr committees and have direct contact with biologists that i can ask specific questions and get specific answers as far as snakehead surveys and behaviors. Here are some myth destroying facts : 1. Snakeheads can walk on land - no they cant. They can wiggle and can live out of water for a period of time because they can get oxygen through water and air but they cant “walk” on land. 2. Snakeheads spawn multiple times a year - there is absolutely no evidence that a female northern snakehead living in the potomac is capable of spawning mire than 1 time a year. There are many fish that spaen multiple tines a year - mostly prey fish like bluegill. However, ive talked to federal, state and snskehesd “experts” and biologists that have absolutely no evidence that a femake snakehead can develop a egg sack, spawn and have fry more than once a year. 3. Go to asia to catch the biggest northern snakeheads - false false. The biggest snajeheads in the world have for the most part come from the Potomac River. The past four world records were caught from the potomac until recently when a new record came from the blackwater eastern shore of maryland area. 4. Snakeheads make circular nests on bottom to spawn - no they dont. They maje a floating nest of vegetation for eggs. A circular spot on the bottom is not ftom a snakehead. 5. It is illegal to let a snakeheaf go - no its not. Its only illegal to transport a live snakehesd. You must either kill or immediately release a snakehead brought to the boat. Although the dnr will encourage you to kill sll snskeheads / you should understsnd thst these same dnr shock and then relesse snakeheads during surveys. These same dnrs release false info on snakeheads- such ss they spawn multiple times a year. 6. Snakeheads are aggresive and easy to catch - false. Snakeheads are extremely pressured on the potomac by fishermen and bow hunting. The snakehead fry ate easy to spot and tgen kill their protective parents. They have adapted over the years to this pressure by living in extremely heavy cover and aware of boats, anglers and even certain lures. They may be “easy” in tbe itrigation ditches of the eastern shore but they are a chalkengr on the potomac. There is few tbings as exciting as watching a snakehead chasing an artificial lure. Quit watching u tube and telling me how much you know from tv. Get on the water and show me how much you know. You might learn thst you know very little.

The potomac bass and snakehead fishing had been very good and i expect it to continue into mid july. Here are some common questions that i receive from new customers. 1. Where do i launch boat - i primarily launch from leesylvania state park in Woodbridge, va. 2. What do i need to bring - nothing. No licenses are needed. You are free to bring ur own rods and lures but i can provide that also. A snack and some water is a good idea. 3. Do you guarantee a fish catch - no i dont. It fishing and every day is different and so is every anglers ability to catch fish. 4. Do you use live bait - no. Im a sports fishing guide that only guides with lures. 5. Can i kerp the fish - i practice catch and release structly except for snakeheads which u are free to keep or release. I do not clean the fish. 6. How many people can i bring - my charter insurance only allows max guests of two. 7. If i have a remaining balance - how fo i pay ? Fishing booker only charges you their deposit of 10 percent when you book a trip. If you have a bakance when you book a trip - that balance is paid directly to me on date of trip. I accept cash and venmo. 8. Are snakeheads easy to catch - no. They require multiple and accurate casting as well as recognition of ambush points. You will learn to not only entice but to effectively set the hook and fight a snakehead. 9. What are the best months for snakeheads - june and july. 10. What are the best months for bass - march thru mid july. 11. Why you. Why pick you - im a professional, knowledgeable and polite fishing guide. I am patient but realistic person thst can help your fishing without setting unrealistic expectations or placing people in a position to fail. I have an advanced education, a processional occupation background, and in a monetary position thst i dont need to rip off a customer. Ive been around the best fishing guides in my region all my life and have been taught a great deal. I did what god wanted me to do in my first occupation and kniw im doing what i have wanted to do since i was a kid. I love fishing and the potomac feels like a family member to me.