Inland Opportunities

Type: Nontidal
Region: Western
Location: Upper Potomac River

Don�t put the rods away just yet; there is still some great fishing to be had before winter�s grip tightens. It can be hard to decide whether to hunt or fish during the fall as there is only so much time! With meat in the freezer, I convinced my fishing partner Steve to spend a day chasing smallmouth bass on the upper Potomac. We decided to fish a fairly remote stretch of river in the mountains of western Maryland. This area is quiet this time of year and we saw no other boats the entire day. The action was steady and between us we landed more than 40 smallmouth ranging from 10 to 18� with most of them right around 12�. Small tubes and other jigs presented slowly, often motionless, on the bottom were most effective. Unfortunately, recent precipitation raised the river to unsafe levels and levels are predicted to rise even further by the end of the week. Always check the water levels prior to planning a trip, wear your PFD, and make some time to enjoy the river before winter.