Northern Division season underway on the Potomac River
MARBURY, Md. – For the most part, the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Northern Division anglers chase smallmouth all summer long, but, once a year, all eyes turn to the Potomac River. This year, the season-opener takes place at the historic river, and it will once again be more of the same, and totally different.
Ever-changing, the Potomac has a pile of tournament history behind it and is a really good tournament venue. The tides keep anglers on their toes, and it offers some really nuanced grass fishing.
This year, tournament weights have not been wild on river, which means that the good late spring, early summer bite the Potomac is known for hasn’t really come around yet. That might be a good thing if the bass really start to bite this week, and if not, folks out fishing next week should have a great time.
Here’s the lowdown on the river from a few of the competitors.
Smith is back and didn’t miss anything
The winner of the 2016 Toyota Series event on the Potomac, Casey Smith hasn’t been back to the river in a while, but it’s welcomed him back with open arms.
“I haven’t been here since ’19, but it’s literally the same old Potomac,” Smith said. “The grass has changed a little bit; from here to there, there’s different types of grass in some areas. I would say it’s more so some areas that don’t have grass that used to, rather than new areas with the grass. That area I won in ’16, there’s just one little strip of grass there, and my waypoints from where I won are completely barren. Other than some changes in the grass, it’s the same, shallow, tidal, dirty water fishin’.”
According to Smith, the same isn’t bad – he thinks the fishing will be pretty decent and possibly exciting.
“I think it’s fishin’ fair,” he said. “I don’t think the top-end weights will be super high, it’s been 16 to 18 in local tournaments. I think 17 1/2 will get it done, and a ton of guys are going to have 12 to 14 pounds.
“I think there’s a chance you see a good frog tournament,” he said. “The water is getting warmer, it’s got warmer and warmer through practice and they seem to be getting more and more active. You’re going to have standard fare too – swim jigs, ChatterBaits, a worm.”
One thing that he has noticed is that the standard community holes on the river seem to be fishing tighter than usual. Every year on the Potomac, a couple of creeks or grass beds will get hot, and anglers will really clump up. This year may see some sections especially clumpy.
“With there seemingly less grass than I’ve seen here in the past, the boats are definitely piled up,” he said. “You’re going to have massive clusters of boats out there – there’s one in particular that’s going to be 40 boats, probably.
“When I won, I won on the biggest community hole there was on the river at the time,” he said. “It makes me hesitant to practice in some of those areas, but it’s still the Potomac, it’s possible to win there. It’s mind-boggling because it’s 3 feet of water, but there are seemingly endless fish in some of those areas.”
Contrasting perspectives from Greico
Christian Greico won last year’s event with a big stick. Photo by Jody White.
The winner of last summer’s Toyota Series event on the Potomac, Christian Greico is incredible at picking apart grass. Despite a new North Carolina address, he grew up in Florida and knows his way around the green stuff.
“All the typical areas have grass, and it’s a lot more expansive than usual,” Greco said. “Greenway Flats – I feel like the last couple years there hasn’t been that much grass. But there’s a ton of grass out there right now. It’s not topped out yet, it’s submerged – in all the creeks it gets topped out.”
The grass-heavy report is a contrast from Smith’s, and more in line with conventional wisdom. From the sounds of it, there’s a lot of grass.
“The Potomac doesn’t seem to be doing as good as usual; I think there’s too much grass,” he said. “I’ve never seen this much grass this time of year the other times I’ve been here. I think it has them spread out because there is so much grass.”
Greico is right in line with Smith on the weight prediction side of things – he’s pegged 52 pounds as the winning weight. To get there, he thinks covering water will be key.
“I’ve caught some nice chunky ones, and some that are really skinny, like they’re just postspawn. I think some are just coming off, and some have been done for quite a while,” he said. “I feel like it’s going to be a ChatterBait and frog, just because of the amount of grass. You’re going to have to cover water.”
One thing sounds like a lock – if you like old-school grass bassin’, this is a good one for you.
The post Northern Division season underway on the Potomac River appeared first on Major League Fishing.
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