Fishing Mattawoman Creek This Weekend - Some Advice Needed - Wheres the Barge?

[Financeguru]

I'm hoping to take the two boys out on Saturday morning to Mattawoman Creek launching from Mattingly Park. I've been there once before in June and was skunked. Catching something this weekend would be be good for the boys, but bass and especially snakehead would be especially great.

Many have reported fishing around the "barge" but I don't know where that is exactly and don't recall seeing it. The previous time I went to Mattawoman, I launched from Mattingly Park, went up river to the left until I reached a small sandy beach like area on the left bank. There's like a little bay that opens up right after it. Is the barge past this area or before it?

Appreciate any advice. Thanks.

[Shady]

If I understand where you are describing, the barge is basically directly across the river from this little sandy beach area. It doesnt really look like a barge, more like a bunch of metal sticking up out of the water. The water right around it is mostly 1-3 feet deep, but there is a hole that goes to about 8 feet. You should also be able to get some pullage on catfish in the middle of the river around the barge if you are interested. Simple bottom rigs with nightcrawlers or cutbait will get you as many cats as you want.

[DanMarino]

Shady's description is 100% accurate from my experience.

I prefer to fish the upper section of Mattawoman Creek up past the steel retaining wall on the left.

[chex]

+1

[Financeguru]

Thanks everyone's help, especially the map. Looks like the barge is before the area I referred to, so hopefully won't have to paddle too far.

We really try to avoid catching catfish and carp but the boys will probably throw out some nightcrawlers and then pray we get bass/sunfish.

Anyone else going to Mattawoman this weekend?

[chex]

If you throw out some nightcrawlers, you WILL get catfish. I bet Ictalurus's hat on it. But why avoid them? They're fun on light tackle.

I usually get a bunch of sunfish and perch farther up the creek (where DanMarino likes to go) with small Mepps spinners (#0 silver, white or firetiger)

[DanMarino]

I've never caught a catfish there. I'll have to do that the next time I go.

[chex]

I've never caught a catfish there. I'll have to do that the next time I go.

Great fun on an ultralight. They'll pull drag like crazy. I've caught them mostly on nightcrawlers on a jighead suspended off the bottom, but also accidentally on Mepps spinners.

If you wanna catch a BIG one, put a big piece of bunker on a fishfinder rig and wait.

Or even cooked shrimp apparently... see Frettr00's nice catch here: http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...attawoman-9-20

[DanMarino]

Wedge on here keeps catching catfish there on chatterbaits and crankbaits.

For sure next time I'll see if I can catch a few.

[wedge]

Dan is correct, I have been catching both bass and catfish slow retrieving chatterbaits in the middle of the creek just below the steel retaining wall. That area also holds a-lot of snakeheads in the weeds and spatterdock.

Good luck!