Potomac cats, 1/29

[J.A. Veil]

Good report Bill. Nice catching guys. Those little cats look like good eating size.

[new2yaks11]

I know lots of guys who fish just south of the Woodrow Wilson and catch really big cats. Some of them keep telling me they want to see me try and land one of the 30-40lb. cats they consistently catch in that area. I'm game but not sure how it's going to end up. I also hear a lot of cats being caught in Mattawoman and the grass beds just outside of the creek as the weather warms a bit in late spring. Have caught them there in years past on rubber worms while bass fishing.

[Cburke]

Looks like fun I love catfishing

[MetroMan]

I know lots of guys who fish just south of the Woodrow Wilson and catch really big cats. Some of them keep telling me they want to see me try and land one of the 30-40lb. cats they consistently catch in that area. I'm game but not sure how it's going to end up.

When you go, let me know! At one of my MSSA meetings last year, Capt Mike Starrett was our speaker. He spoke about the big cats that he targets on his charters. I mentioned catching them from a kayak. He pretty much laughed me off...which gives me even more determination to go out and give it a try.

[Capt C-Hawk]

Good to see some eating size blues, check out this Gene Mueller post to see what you might run into in the Potomac.

http://www.genemuellerfishing.com/20...land-blue.html

Could be this is why Capt Mike chuckled at the kayak catfishing idea.

[MetroMan]

What a monster! quite possible!

[kevinfry]

Looks like next Jan we need to do a Blue Cat meet and greet from Marshall Hall or some such!! Could not be easier access and is easy to find (well... if you go straight there anyway!)
Who knows, maybe the colonial farm ramp will actually be working by then! Though that looks like it will take a feat of engineering, for sure.

[ictalurus]

Big cats are definitely doable from a yak. Rob Choi and mudduck on tidalfish have caught some really nice ones. A 75-100 pounder might make things interesting, though, at least for getting a good picture. I was hoping some big ones would show up on Sunday, but I'd definitely like to do a big cat safari one day.

[Capt C-Hawk]

Marshall Hall is a good place to start, but Ft Washington Marina is a much shorter paddle. Especiaslly for the Fort Washington area. Oh wait..... you guys don't paddle, I'm sorry.

[nay_sayer]

Marshall Hall is a good place to start, but Ft Washington Marina is a much shorter paddle. Especiaslly for the Fort Washington area. Oh wait..... you guys don't paddle, I'm sorry.

Lol...Piscataway launch is right on the other side of the creek from Ft. Washington Marina and you don't have to pay $5 to launch. There are some great coves for bass and cats just up from the launch too!

[new2yaks11]

Piscataway is definitely in some good "big" cat waters. That creek always gives up some really nice bass in the spring as well. I've launched out of Ft. Washington Marina lots of times. Never knew anything about another lauch, would like to try that and not have to spend $5 every time I launch. Would love to find some fresh bait and try for those big cats. I think if we could paddle to some deep water, we'd find some of those 30 plus pound cats.

[MetroMan]

Let's set something up...

[nay_sayer]

Piscataway is definitely in some good "big" cat waters. That creek always gives up some really nice bass in the spring as well. I've launched out of Ft. Washington Marina lots of times. Never knew anything about another lauch, would like to try that and not have to spend $5 every time I launch. Would love to find some fresh bait and try for those big cats. I think if we could paddle to some deep water, we'd find some of those 30 plus pound cats.

The launch is all the way down at the end of Wharf Rd off of Farmington Rd W. it is public and FREE. There is parking there for 15 or so cars and a turn-around. In the summer I see the same 6 or 8 guys playing corn hole (not corn-holing, thats a different park) and cat fishing from the shore every time I'm there. They are pretty friendly and my van has always been safe.

[kevinfry]

C-Hawk, I'm a paddler for sure....but I like fishing with the hobies in case I need a tow in! If Bill can tow a 20ft power boat, then my fat rear end will be no problem!!!

[PotomacTide]

Piscataway/Fort Washington/Mt Vernon is where I regularly fish because I know of a free and easy Kayak launch that is walking distance from my house on that part of the Potomac. But I launch from the VA side.

Fishing from the shoreline on that part of the Potomac sucks, but from a Kayak it is fantastic. Great variety of fish including bass, yellow perch crappie, cats, and snakehead. But I think the only thing hitting right now are cats. The riverbed in that area is interesting. Most of it is fairly shallow (4' - 10'). But it drops off sharply about 3/4 of the way on the Maryland side, and the channel is very thick with fish. My hummingbird usually lights up with about 8 fish on the screen all day as long as I'm hovering in the channel. Problem is I have a hard time getting them to take the bait when in the channel at depths between 25' - 70 '. The current is consistantly strong in the channel, so it makes it all the more challenging. But I'm determined to discover the trick to getting them to bite inside the channel. If anybody knows any trick for the Potomac channel, please share! I find the best luck in the shallower waters on the lip of the channel, or in the moss and grass covers in the shallows during late spring and summer. Great bass fishing on spinner baits all spring and summer in that area. As the grass fills in, the bass flock to that area for the great structure and cover that it provides. The invasive grass and debris has become a big turnoff for most fisherman. If you don't know the waters, boaters can really screw their vessel. But for kayakers, this just means less pressure on the fish, and areas to fish that bass boats can't get too!

For those who want to fish that area and are in Northern VA, there are a couple of good launch sites. Best free spot to launch on the VA side is about a mile and a half north of the Mt Vernon estate on the GW parkway. There are about a dozen marked parking spots just south of Riverside park. The launch is only about 20 meters from where your park. Its a natural kayak launch that is flat and shallow with no rocks. Its hidden right behind the picnic bench that is just a few yards from the bank.