19 inch Smallmouth Bass on the Potomac River

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Potomac River

I've been catching pretty good numbers of 10 to 14 inch smallmouth bass on the Potomac River since the big flood events we experienced this spring. I've been alternating launching the kayak out of Edwards Ferry and Seneca Breaks (Violet's Lock). Typically I will have 3 rods rigged with 3 different lures. One rod has a Texas Rigged soft plastic crayfish imitation tied on, one rod has a spinnerbait and one rod has a crankbait (currently I'm favoring a dark brown Bomber Model A). Each presentation has its place as I drift fish down the river. This system works particularly well on the Seneca Breaks section of the river as that area has a little bit of everything going on (fast water, slow water, eddies, rocks, islands, you name it). Seneca Breaks is great. Everything about that section of the river screams Smallmouth Bass. The only problem with that area if there is one is that there is almost too much good looking water!

The one thing missing on my Potomac fishing trips has been a few of the bigger beasts. Those smallmouth who literally take your breath away on that first leap. I finally connected with one this past Saturday. I was working a spinnerbait around one of those grassy islands in the Seneca Breaks section. Three jumps from the big girl and then she decided to head south with me and the kayak in hot pursuit. The fight finished a good 75 yards downstream where I took a quick measurement (19.5" plus or minus a quarter of an inch) snapped the photo and got her back into the water and on her way as quickly as possible.

Attached are three photos. Two are of the typical bass I've been catching and one of the big girl from Saturday.