Potomac River © BGS

About the River

What can you say about the Potomac other than it is probably the best tidewater largemouth factory on the East Coast. I don't know another body of water that consistently produces lunker bass like the Potomac. The Potomac River gives you just about every kind of structure that you can imagine. Wood, grass, sunken barges, piers, rocks, etc. you name it has it. You can navigate from the Washington DC area all the way down to the Rt. 301 bridge for Bass. 

What and Where to fish ?

You can fish the Potomac with just about anything- you name it. Traditionally during the Spawn the bass love the Rat-L-traps, Carolina Rig, and 4" worm. During the Summer they'll rip the rod out of your hand with a buzzbait and spinnerbait. In the fall a Spinnerbait and Crankbait can't be beat. Where to fish- anywhere. I'm serious. Traditionally, the backs of coves in the early spring followed by the Grass Flats in the Summer and both in the Fall. The following Marinas are located on the MD side: Ft. Washington Marina in the Piscataway Creek, Sweden Point Marina in the Mattawoman Creek (301) 743-7336, Goose Bay Marina in the Port Tobacco Creek (301) 934-3812. 

When to fish ?

You can fish from February through November. Although I think April through June are the best times. I know one guy that caught a 10 pounder out of the Nanjemoy in February.

How to get there ?

Use I-95 South to Rt. 210 South exit (Indian Head Highway). The exit is just before the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (I-95 Bridge) as you are heading South. Take Rt. 210 South. The first ramp you can use is the Ft. Washington Ramp. To get there make a right onto Ft. Washington Rd. and follow the signs to the ramp. Ft. Washington Rd. is about 5-10 minutes south of the exit. The next ramp that most tournaments are run out of is Sweden Pt. Marina in Smallwood St. Park. This is about 35 minutes south of the exit. To get there take Rt. 210 South to Rt. 225 SE to Rt. 224 SW. The ramp is on the right hand side of Rt. 224 SW. Follow signs to the ramp. If you want to launch further south, you can use Goose Bay Marina launch out of the Port Tabacco River. You can get there by taking 301 South to 6 West. Take 6 West for 5.7 miles and make a left onto Blossom Point Rd. Blossom Pt. Rd for 1.6 miles then make a left onto Brentland Rd. Brentland Rd. for 1 mile then make a right onto Goose Bay Lane. Follow to Marina.

Where to stay ?

There are a bunch of places to stay up and down Rt. 210 and Rt. 301. Some people stay in LaPlata when launching out of Smallwood St. Park. Others stay in Waldorf. Here is a list of the places I stayed and my comments. Most are around $50-60/night double. For those that aren't familiar with the area, Waldorf is about 5-7 miles north of LaPlata on Rt. 301.

1. Indian Head Inn Motel, Indian Head, MD, Rt. 210 near the Jct. of Rt. 210/225, 301-743-5405, probably the cheapest, single story motel. Can park the boat in front of the room and charge battery through the door. Nothing really close by to eat at though. TV, not sure about fridge. Phone system stinks. They have to leave a note on your door...missed some of mine. less than $40 last time I checked. Approx. 5-10 miles from Smallwood State Park.

2. Best Western Hotel, LaPlata, MD, Rt. 301 near the Jct. of Rt. 301/6, 301-934-4900, modern two story hotel,  nice, has cable TV, phone, fridge, microwave, outdoor pool, exercise room, continental breakfast, etc. Have to park boat in the front of the hotel or in the rear to charge battery since none of the rooms have private entrances. Great place if you're taking the family. Probably the newest of all the hotels/motels. $54/night. Approx. 5-10 miles from Smallwood State Park or Goose Bay Marina.

3. Deluxe Inn Motel, La Plata, MD, Rt. 301 near the Jct. of Rt. 301/6, 301-934-1400, some ground floor rooms,cheap, older two story motel, must request ground floor room with microwave and fridge, Satellite TV, etc. Can park the boat in front of the room and charge battery through the door. $45/night double. Approx. 5-10 miles from Smallwood State Park or Goose Bay Marina.

4. Super-8 Hotel, La Plata, MD, Rt. 301 near the Jct. of Rt. 301/225, 301-934-3465, similar to the Best Western but not as nice, rooms are smaller but has TV, phone, fridge, microwave, etc. Have to park boat in back of the hotel or on the side to charge battery since none of the rooms have private entrances. $49/night double. Approx. 5-10 miles from Smallwood State Park and 8-13 miles from Goose Bay Marina.

5. Holiday Inn Hotel , Waldorf, MD, Rt. 301 near the Jct. of Rt. 301/5, 301-645-8200, largest of all the Hotels, nice rooms with all the amenities, has the only bar/restaurant of all the hotels/motels I've listed. The restaurant food is good and prices reasonable. Home of the B.A.S.S. headquarters. Four or five story hotel. Have to park boat in back of hotel to charge battery since none of the rooms have private entrances. Not sure, Im guessing $50+/night double. Approx. 12-17 miles from Smallwood State Park and 15-20 miles from Goose Bay Marina.

6. Howard Johnson Motel, Waldorf, MD, Rt. 301, 301-932-5090, will be checking this out within the next month.

7. Econo-Lodge, Waldorf, MD, Rt. 301, 301-645-0022, I've stayed here for a couple Red Man's when everything else was booked. It's similar to the Best Western in La Plata. It has everything although there are no rooms with private entrances. Not many charge receptacles outside either. This is the farthest accomodation from Smallwood. I'd say it's about a couple of miles North of the Holiday Inn.

8. Super 8, Indian Head, MD, Rt. 210, not far from the entrance to the Naval Surface Warfare Center. This was built in '97. However, the parking is terrible. They definitely didn't have bass anglers in mind when they built this place. I'll get the number when I can. It's a room, however, and it's real close to Slavin's ramp.

Recommended Boat Ramps: (for MD side only)

Ft. Washington- The Ft. Washington ramp is (a State owned marina) located off of Indian Head Highway (Rt. 210S), approx. 10-15 minutes south of the I-95/Rt. 210 junction. To get there going South, make a right hand turn onto Ft. Washington Rd (5th traffic light once you get on 210S) and then a left on Warburton Rd and follow the signs. This ramp if fine for running local club tournaments out of, but it gets pretty crowded with some of the bigger boats during the summer. Other than Smallwood State Park Marina this is where I will launch. Generally, if I want to fish the upper half of the Potomac I'll launch here. It has double ramps. There are rest rooms, gas pumps, snack bar, phones, services, etc. here. Fee- $5.

Slavins Launch- Slavin's is a private launch off of Indian Head Highway (Rt. 210S) approx. 30 minutes south of the I-95/Rt. 210 juntion. To get there, make a left hand turn off of Rt. 210S onto Mattingly Rd, just before the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head entrance. This is only a single ramp with no phones or services. Parking is limited too. So why launch here? It is a good launch when you know there is a big tournament going out of Smallwood State Park. It is also a good launch if you are going to fish it during the week. There is a fee- $5.

Smallwood State Park- More tournaments go out of this ramp then any other ramp on the Potomac. The B.A.S.S. have been using this launch for years so you know it has everything you'll need. To get there take either Rt. 210 South or Rt. 301 South to Rt. 225 (East from Rt. 210 and West from Rt. 301) then Rt. 224 South. Look for the launch ramp sign on the right hand side of the road. (It is approx. 4-5 miles on right). Follow signs to the ramp. As I said, this place has it all: refreshments, gas, phones, rest rooms, etc. You will have to watch the times though, the launch will not open before a certain time (I forget maybe 6am). This launch is my favorite- I think it has 4 or 5 ramps.

Licencing Information, Guide Service and Lake Maps ?

Guides- Call Bill Albright of Bill's Guide Service. If he can't take you he has a friend at the Reel Bass Adventures that will.

Want a great new video tape from RBA? "Where Bass Live" is the 2nd in a series of videos, filmed on location of the scenic Potomac River. For 60 minutes, members of the Reel Bass Adventures (RBA) team will help you: Identify structure and cover, reveal overlooked patterns and illustrate methods that can be universally applied to any body of water. Order today: Send check or Money order to: Guide Series Videos, 7390 Simms Landing Road, Port Tobacco, MD 20677. Oh by the way, it's $19.95 plus $4 shipping and handling. What is the first in this series? "Bass Secrets of the Potomac"- another 60 min. tape that is $17.95 plus $4 shipping and handling. I have this one- and it's a keeper.

Licenses- To fish above the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (I-95 bridge) you need a D.C. license. Residents will have to pay $5 while non-residents $7.50. To fish from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge South you will need a Maryland Tidal license (Bay Sport) for $12.

Maps- If you want what I think is the best map of the Potomac, buy GMCO's Pro Series Map of Tidal Potomac River, from Georgetown to 301 Bridge. This map includes GPS coordinates, marinas, streets, underwater structure, etc. and it's waterproof. It's also easy to read and in color. Call 703-451-3926. The copyright is 1997. Price $6.95

If you need further info on the Potomac call the Charles County Tourism Office at 1-800-766-3386.

Click here for a great website of the Potomac River!