{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Mattawoman Creek

Mattawoman is probably THE major fish factory on the Potomac, if you are considering largemouth or snakeheads.  Matt is correct in giving you the two primary launch points for anyone with a cartop boat, with the Mason Springs Conservancy property being the best choice (though lots of poison ivy around).  As you paddle downstream and the creek begins to emerge from the forest, any wood you find in the water may hold bass.  And there are even a handful of gravel/sand bars that you can pull up on on and stretch your legs, and cast while standing.  

The creek has vast acreage of shallow, vegetated flats that support largemouth spawning, far more than other creeks in the Potomac.  As if that wasn't good enough, Smallwood State Park hosts dozens of bass tournaments a year, some of them national in scope (B.A.S.S.) drawing hundreds of competitors.  Unless they've changed practices, all the fish caught in DC, Md and Va from Fletchers to the Port Tobacco River are released at the ramps in Mattawoman.  Once upon a time the fishing here was good but no better than say Mallows Bay, Piscataway, or Nanjemoy Creeks.  That is no longer true, it is much better.  All these fish and prime shallows seem to do good things for the snakeheads too.

Early in the season you can take your small craft up into these vast bays, were emergent vegetation has yet to reach the surface, and see & catch fish.  Once the grass is up to the surface it's not really practical to get in those areas.   However - look at say Google Map satellite view - there is a landmark called Nelson Point not too far downstream from the conservancy property (upstream from the Indian Head park put-in) and you'll see to the NNW a large creek that eventually forks as it approaches a distant wooded shoreline.  As the vegetation clogs shallow areas towards late spring and summer, this creek is deep enough in the center that you can get quite a distance up in it.  In many places WAY up there, it remains 5-8 ft deep in the channel which remains free of grass.  This creek is stuffed with fish, but they are very hard to get to because of the grass.  You can throw topwater bugs until it becomes too choked, or afterward you can selectively drop a heavy, large weighted streamer into the channel gap and let it sink to bottom.  There are a LOT of bass down by the bottom along the channel.

Snakeheads are particularly attracted to topwater baits.  If you were not partial to fly fishing you would throw a Senko in the grass gap and hold onto your rod as it sinks to bottom.  Another summer feature - as the vegetation is so thick, the water is filtered and can be very clear back there - peering down you will see bass nosing around every few feet.  These don't tend to be little nubs either, solid 1.5 - 4 lb bass are typical.

One comment on Piscataway - there is a shoreline fishing access at Farmington Landing where you can launch a cartop boat from amongst the catfishermen.  Turn right, head up the right fork of the back of the creek - this is not as nice as Mattawoman but it is closer to DC - the bay you cross to get to the back of the creek is shallow so most bass boats don't go there unless the tide is up.  But there's quite a bit of spadderdock and SAV back there too, and plenty of bass along with white and yellow perch in season, all the way back until you can't go any further.  One negative - there is a sewage treatment plant back there - it's not supposed to be releasing into Piscataway, but you take your chances.   I have had some great days back there.

Farmington Landing

https://goo.gl/maps/oX1UxxFjH9ZmRAMbA

On Sunday, April 19, 2020 at 10:07:22 PM UTC-4, Nick wrote:

Took the canoe out on Mattawoman today with the wife and kids.  Though I had a couple of rods, given the family paddling dynamic and the brutal wind, fishing was more aspirational than productive. Lots of guys on bass boats out but didn't see much catching going on. Curious if anyone on the forum fishes this part of the Potomac at all and Finds it to be worth the drive. Some incredible habitat to be sure.

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