Fishing in Northern Virginia is a popular activity, especially for bass anglers. With Washington's iconic landmarks as a backdrop, or the option to go out into nature for a quieter experience, there are plenty of opportunities to catch black largemouth bass and black bass in the tidal and southern regions of the Potomac River. Autumn is an ideal time to go fishing, as the water temperature drops between 70 and 60 degrees and the bass start to feed to get them through the winter. The Smith River sampling of fish stocks focuses on non-game fish and juvenile brown trout, showing an encouraging picture of fish populations.
This has attracted renowned sponsors such as Bassmaster and Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) to organize annual competitions here, which draw hundreds of bass anglers from across the country. The VA and MD licenses are valid for fishing on both sides of the Potomac, so you can access most of the same waters. If you want to cover more ground and fish in several areas in one day, the best thing you can do is go fishing by boat. Jim Taylor, a former professional with Fishing League Worldwide who now guides on Lake Okeechobee, says it's difficult to find and fish when there's cold rain, snow, or when the water temperature drops sharply.
Although the number of fish caught per excursion decreases during the coldest months of the year, cold temperatures offer anglers more chances of getting a trophy fish (in the case of some species). Most fishing guides are found in the Lower Potomac, in places like Fort Washington, Maryland and Alexandria, VA. When it comes to bass fishing in Northern Virginia, it's important to be aware of weather conditions. The best time to go fishing is when there's no rain or snow and when the water temperature is between 70 and 60 degrees. This is when bass are most active and you have a better chance of catching a trophy fish.
It's also important to consider getting a VA or MD license if you plan on fishing on both sides of the Potomac River. Finally, if you want to cover more ground and fish in several areas in one day, it's best to go fishing by boat.
