Below are a list of local haunts (within an hour or so of DC) that should satisfy your fly fishing needs. Listed are a description of the water, the species available, recommended gear and flies, and the best times of year to fish there. While this is meant to be a reference for those looking to explore our area's fishing opportunities, I do not necessarily "guide" at all of these locations all of the time.
Urban & Tidal
Refers to areas within the immediate Metropolitan area. These spots are great to hit up before work or after work, or on the weekends. They are not secret by any means, but shots at big fish persist throughout these parts.
Chain Bridge (VA & MD)
Place: A hot spot for local bait fisherman in the pursuit of trophy smallmouth bass, giant Striped Bass, or Catfish (30+lbs) during most of the year, Chain Bridge is also a productive fly fishery at times. Defined by its spring shad run, fast current, deep water, and several types of fish holding structure (boulders, steel rip rap, old bridge pilings, etc), Chain Bridge offers a more traditional setting for fly fishing than other spots in the city.
While wading is not recommended due to the strength of the current and incredibly variant bank (drop offs everywhere be careful), anglers can effectively fish this powerful stretch of the Potomac by standing on the bank and allowing the fly to drift through the main current. Because of the water's turbidity, intermediate and sink tip lines are a necessity to get flies down deep enough in the current to where the fish can get them. A beautiful and sometimes incredibly productive place to fish (see description of spring shad/striper run below), Chain Bridge is one of the more exciting, breathtaking, and dangerous places to fish in the Washington, D.C area.
Targets:
Striped Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Catfish
Panfish
American Shad (spring)
Hickory Shad (spring)
Northern Snakehead (spring)
Rod: 6-8 wt, 9'ft
Line: Intermediate, sink tip, or full sink (you're wasting your time without it).
Leader/Tippet: 10 ft of 8-12 lb-test
Favorite Flies: Size#8-4 Clousers Craw or Minnow, Hellgramite Pattern
Prime Time: Spring. While Chain Bridge can hold fish year round, its springtime run of American Shad, Hickory Shad, and Striped Bass are historically and nationally renown. The run, which traditionally begins in early April, brings millions of American and Hickory Shad up the Potomac to their natural spawning grounds and in turn bring Striped Bass and local fisherman with them. Additionally, coinciding with the shad run at Chain Bridge is a sizable migration of Northern Snakeheads, making this already dynamite fishery the place to be at the start of the season.
License: Virginia, DC, or Maryland depending on what side of the river you are fishing on.
Access: Parking can be found on Canal Road (near Clara Barton Parkway), Chain Bridge Road, or at Fletcher's Boathouse.
While wading is not recommended due to the strength of the current and incredibly variant bank (drop offs everywhere be careful), anglers can effectively fish this powerful stretch of the Potomac by standing on the bank and allowing the fly to drift through the main current. Because of the water's turbidity, intermediate and sink tip lines are a necessity to get flies down deep enough in the current to where the fish can get them. A beautiful and sometimes incredibly productive place to fish (see description of spring shad/striper run below), Chain Bridge is one of the more exciting, breathtaking, and dangerous places to fish in the Washington, D.C area.
Targets:
Striped Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Catfish
Panfish
American Shad (spring)
Hickory Shad (spring)
Northern Snakehead (spring)
Rod: 6-8 wt, 9'ft
Line: Intermediate, sink tip, or full sink (you're wasting your time without it).
Leader/Tippet: 10 ft of 8-12 lb-test
Favorite Flies: Size#8-4 Clousers Craw or Minnow, Hellgramite Pattern
Prime Time: Spring. While Chain Bridge can hold fish year round, its springtime run of American Shad, Hickory Shad, and Striped Bass are historically and nationally renown. The run, which traditionally begins in early April, brings millions of American and Hickory Shad up the Potomac to their natural spawning grounds and in turn bring Striped Bass and local fisherman with them. Additionally, coinciding with the shad run at Chain Bridge is a sizable migration of Northern Snakeheads, making this already dynamite fishery the place to be at the start of the season.
License: Virginia, DC, or Maryland depending on what side of the river you are fishing on.
Access: Parking can be found on Canal Road (near Clara Barton Parkway), Chain Bridge Road, or at Fletcher's Boathouse.
Gravelly Point (VA)
Place: One of the best Striped Bass fishing spots in our area, Gravelly Point is located right before Reagan National Airport (opposite Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary) on George Washington Parkway. A popular place for bikers, runners, and plane watchers in addition to fishermen - this narrow inlet experiences a great amount of current and bait fish on falling tides throughout most of the year. The combination of these factors make Gravelly a stronghold for migratory and resident populations of Striped Bass throughout the year.
This spot can be incredibly crowded with bait fisherman and other fly anglers during its peak season or on weekends, so anglers who want good action should look to either fish late at night or early in the morning. While most of the attention is spent fishing the culvert, anglers shouldn't ignore the pocket water and docks, which hold game fish as well. Wading is recommended here due to a combination of relatively shallow depth and firm footing (rock/shell bottom), but anglers should be warned against venturing too close to the airport side of the inlet. As several local anglers can attest, this will most likely result in a visit from the Transportation Security Administration and a wasted day of fishing.
Targets:
Striped Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Catfish
Panfish
Rod: 6-8 wt, 9' ft
Line: Intermediate sink
Leader/Tippet: 8-10 feet of 8-10 lb-test
Favorite Flies: Size #8-4 Baitfish Streamer or Clouser Minnow
Prime Time: Falling tides at night or during low-light hours, March-June and October-Late November are best for stripers, everything else is a crap shoot.
License: District of Columbia
Access: Public parking is available from 6 AM to 10 PM in the public park. If you want to fish either before or after those times, you will have to cross GW Parkway and "run the gauntlet" from the Roaches Run parking lot on the opposite side of the road.
This spot can be incredibly crowded with bait fisherman and other fly anglers during its peak season or on weekends, so anglers who want good action should look to either fish late at night or early in the morning. While most of the attention is spent fishing the culvert, anglers shouldn't ignore the pocket water and docks, which hold game fish as well. Wading is recommended here due to a combination of relatively shallow depth and firm footing (rock/shell bottom), but anglers should be warned against venturing too close to the airport side of the inlet. As several local anglers can attest, this will most likely result in a visit from the Transportation Security Administration and a wasted day of fishing.
Targets:
Striped Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Catfish
Panfish
Rod: 6-8 wt, 9' ft
Line: Intermediate sink
Leader/Tippet: 8-10 feet of 8-10 lb-test
Favorite Flies: Size #8-4 Baitfish Streamer or Clouser Minnow
Prime Time: Falling tides at night or during low-light hours, March-June and October-Late November are best for stripers, everything else is a crap shoot.
License: District of Columbia
Access: Public parking is available from 6 AM to 10 PM in the public park. If you want to fish either before or after those times, you will have to cross GW Parkway and "run the gauntlet" from the Roaches Run parking lot on the opposite side of the road.
Constitution Gardens (DC)
Place: One of the less pressured fisheries within the District (due to a close proximity to the National Mall), Constitution Gardens is part of a 50 acre public park that has been part of the National Park Service since 1982. If you can deal with the amount of strange looks you're bound to receive, this is a great place to fish when in a crunch for time. A relatively shallow, man made body of water with limited structure, fish will hold on the surrounding sea wall and in areas with depth change. Wading is not an option here, but anglers can find success by walking the sea wall and either roll casting or making long side-arm casts (when pedestrian traffic allows). Constitution Gardens is an oasis within the city and definitely deserves an hour or two of your time if you've never fished it.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Sunfish
Carp
Rod: 3-6wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 9-12 feet of 6-8 lb-test
Favorite Flies: Size #8 Clouser Minnow (olive/white)
Prime Time: Late February through November
License: District of Columbia
Access: Public parking is availabe on Constitution Avenue starting at 9:15 AM and in the surrounding streets where available.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Sunfish
Carp
Rod: 3-6wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 9-12 feet of 6-8 lb-test
Favorite Flies: Size #8 Clouser Minnow (olive/white)
Prime Time: Late February through November
License: District of Columbia
Access: Public parking is availabe on Constitution Avenue starting at 9:15 AM and in the surrounding streets where available.
C&O Canal (MD & DC)
Place: A popular run and bike trail spanning Cumberland, MD to the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is the definition of an urban fishery. Man-made, shallow, and riddled with pedestrian traffic (if you're not fishing very early or late in the day), the C&O offers decent to excellent opportunities at some of the District's more exclusive brutish targets - Carp and Northern Snakeheads. Characterized by a manicured running trail on one bank and completely untamed mess on the opposite bank, the C&O can be a difficult place to fish due to its lack of back casting room, pedestrian traffic, and ample hiding places for fish. While wading is not allowed, anglers can find success by walking the footpath and sight casting to individual or groups of fish. Water is drained from the C&O in the winter for canal maintenance and filled again in the spring.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Catfish
Carp
Northern Snakehead
Sunfish
Bluegill
Rod: 4-7wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 10' ft of 8-12 lb-test
Favorite Fly: Size#10-6 Woolybugger (olive or black/olive) or Mulberry Pattern (for carp)
Prime Time: April through June
License: District of Columbia or Maryland
Access: Parking can be found at Fletcher's Cove on Canal Road in D.C, Clara Barton Parkway on the DC/Maryland border (just past to Chain Bridge), or way upstream at the National Park Station on MacArthur Blvd near Potomac Village.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Catfish
Carp
Northern Snakehead
Sunfish
Bluegill
Rod: 4-7wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 10' ft of 8-12 lb-test
Favorite Fly: Size#10-6 Woolybugger (olive or black/olive) or Mulberry Pattern (for carp)
Prime Time: April through June
License: District of Columbia or Maryland
Access: Parking can be found at Fletcher's Cove on Canal Road in D.C, Clara Barton Parkway on the DC/Maryland border (just past to Chain Bridge), or way upstream at the National Park Station on MacArthur Blvd near Potomac Village.
Four Mile Run (VA)
Place: One of the more popular areas for local fly fishermen, Four Mile Run is a tidal creek that runs through Alexandria and empties into the Potomac near Reagan National Airport. "4MR" is an ideal destination for anyone looking to find fish throughout the year as it offers excellent accessibility, visibility, and wading (those who wet wade should wear thick soled shoes due to the presence of glass and other unpleasant things in the creek bed). Defined by its warm water discharge, rip-rap lined bank, and fish-holding bridge pilings downstream (near the Toyota dealership), 4MR plays host to anything and everything that swims in the Potomac River and then some - including monster Largemouth Bass, Northern Snakeheads, and Carp. Extremely tidal, it's important to pay attention to tide swings. Water moves in and out of the creek at a deceptively quick pace, don't find yourself stranded in the channel on an incoming tide.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Striped Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Northern Snakehead
Carp
Koi
Catfish
Crappie
White Perch
Yellow Perch
Sunfish
Bluegill
**Nile Tilapia**
Rod: 4-8wt, 9' ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 11 ft 6-8 lb test (3-4x)
Favorite Fly: Bonefish Slider
Prime Time: Year round. April through June is pretty hard to beat at 4MR, but it excels in the winter as a refuge for warm water fish as well.
License: Virginia
Access: Via Four Mile Run Park on Mt. Vernon Avenue or by parking on the street by the Toyota Dealership on Route 1.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Striped Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Northern Snakehead
Carp
Koi
Catfish
Crappie
White Perch
Yellow Perch
Sunfish
Bluegill
**Nile Tilapia**
Rod: 4-8wt, 9' ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 11 ft 6-8 lb test (3-4x)
Favorite Fly: Bonefish Slider
Prime Time: Year round. April through June is pretty hard to beat at 4MR, but it excels in the winter as a refuge for warm water fish as well.
License: Virginia
Access: Via Four Mile Run Park on Mt. Vernon Avenue or by parking on the street by the Toyota Dealership on Route 1.
Harper's Ferry (WV, VA, & MD)
Place: One of the area's premier smallmouth bass fisheries, Harper's Ferry lies on the border of West Virginia and Maryland at the intersections of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Located only an hour and a half from Washington, D.C, Harper's Ferry offers supreme fishability and atmosphere without requiring one to abscond to some far off destination. Although the regulations can be a bit fuzzy (you'll need a West Virginia or Virginia license to fish the West Virginia side of the river and a Maryland license to fish the Maryland side), a combination of incredible scenery and accessibility make Harper's the ideal weekend getaway. Containing hundreds of small islands and riffles, Harper's Ferry is smallmouth heaven. Anglers who frequently fish Harper's Ferry speak of 50-fish days and monster smallmouth bass, fish that rival any giant bronze-back fishery in the North East. Yet the combination of quantity and quality make this fishery the ultimate escape for the urban angler. Fishing Harper's Ferry is a fairly simple affair: find rock, cast fly. Sound simple? That's because it is. Anglers who cast flies upstream, mend, and allow them to flow downstream along seams and drop offs produce fish in a big way. If nothing hits on the first go, try different angles and depths until you start hooking up. Waders and good wading boots are a necessity in cooler months, but in the summer months, fishermen can get away with wet wading as long as they have proper footwear. A wading staff is suggested for those who aren't comfortable in fast water.
Targets:
Smallmouth Bass
Carp
Sunfish
Catfish
Rod: 4-7wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 10 ft of 6-10 lb-test (4-2X)
Favorite Fly: Hellgramite Pattern, Clouser Craw, or Boogie Bug (blue)
Prime Time: May-October (gauge flows before going here)
License: Maryland for the Maryland side, Virginia or West Virginia for Virginia side
Access: Parking is available on the Maryland side or by taking a right onto Bakerton Rd (CO Route 297) off of I-340 and parking a half-mile past the Harper's Ferry Campground on the WV side of the river.
Targets:
Smallmouth Bass
Carp
Sunfish
Catfish
Rod: 4-7wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 10 ft of 6-10 lb-test (4-2X)
Favorite Fly: Hellgramite Pattern, Clouser Craw, or Boogie Bug (blue)
Prime Time: May-October (gauge flows before going here)
License: Maryland for the Maryland side, Virginia or West Virginia for Virginia side
Access: Parking is available on the Maryland side or by taking a right onto Bakerton Rd (CO Route 297) off of I-340 and parking a half-mile past the Harper's Ferry Campground on the WV side of the river.
Roaches Run aka "The Duck Pond" (VA)
Place: Situated right before the exit to Reagan National Airport on George Washington Parkway, Roaches Run is a tidal waterfowl sanctuary that receives a fair amount of fishing pressure from local fishermen during peak season and on weekends. Loaded with fallen trees, lily pads, stumps, cattails, hydrilla and other fish holding cover, Roaches Run is a shallow, easily accessible and interesting place to fish.
Although it is littered with floating bottles and bags that make their way in on the tidal changes, Roaches Run is is one of the better locations to target Northern Snakeheads within the immediate Metropolitan area. Its ample supply and variety of cover make it a haven for these fish and the equally impressive largemouth bass. Within the sanctuary, anglers are permitted to use non-motored personal watercraft - i.e kayaks, jon boats, and canoes - but a "firmish" mud bottom and manageable depths throughout make this location an ideal place to wade as well. As with all tidal fisheries - please check the tide chart before heading out.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Carp
Northern Snakehead
Gar
Crappie
Sunfish
Bluegill
Rod: 5-8wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 10 ft or 8-12 lb-test
Favorite Fly: Rabbit-Fur Leech Pattern
Prime Time: Late February-November
License: Virginia
Access: Parking lot on George Washington Parkway
Although it is littered with floating bottles and bags that make their way in on the tidal changes, Roaches Run is is one of the better locations to target Northern Snakeheads within the immediate Metropolitan area. Its ample supply and variety of cover make it a haven for these fish and the equally impressive largemouth bass. Within the sanctuary, anglers are permitted to use non-motored personal watercraft - i.e kayaks, jon boats, and canoes - but a "firmish" mud bottom and manageable depths throughout make this location an ideal place to wade as well. As with all tidal fisheries - please check the tide chart before heading out.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Carp
Northern Snakehead
Gar
Crappie
Sunfish
Bluegill
Rod: 5-8wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 10 ft or 8-12 lb-test
Favorite Fly: Rabbit-Fur Leech Pattern
Prime Time: Late February-November
License: Virginia
Access: Parking lot on George Washington Parkway
Rock Creek Park (DC)
Place: Rock Creek spans over 2,000 acres along the District's Rock Creek Valley before emptying into the Potomac River near Georgetown. Loaded with hiking trails, bike paths, and wildlife, Rock Creek offers some of the District's best opportunities for urban escape and classic, western style fly fishing within the city limits. However, despite all it's good qualities - Rock Creek receives very little fishing pressure. Whether this is due to signs warning about poor water quality (especially after rain) or a lack of clarification regarding angling regulations for the park (no wading allowed in the creek and a valid DC fishing license required) - Rock Creek looks, feels, and fishes similar to a trout stream. A versatile fishery loaded with riffles and good looking pools, anglers can most effectively fish the creek by actively finding gravel bars, standing on rocks near the bank, or biking from pool to pool.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Striped Bass
Catfish
Carp
Northern Snakehead
Sunfish
Bluegill
Non-game fish (creek chubs, dace, fall fish)
Rod: 3-6 wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 9-10 ft of 6-10 lb-test (4-2X)
Favorite Flies: Nymph rigs (Size#12-10 San Juan Worm or Size#16-12 Hare's Ear or Flashback Pheasant Tail with size#10-8 rubber-legged Woolybugger trailer 1 ft behind the main fly)
Prime Time: April-June, October-December
License: District of Columbia
Access: Metro accessible (Woodley Park - Red Line), there is limited parking available at the park center and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Personally, I'd recommend walking down from the Woodley Metro.
Targets:
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Striped Bass
Catfish
Carp
Northern Snakehead
Sunfish
Bluegill
Non-game fish (creek chubs, dace, fall fish)
Rod: 3-6 wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 9-10 ft of 6-10 lb-test (4-2X)
Favorite Flies: Nymph rigs (Size#12-10 San Juan Worm or Size#16-12 Hare's Ear or Flashback Pheasant Tail with size#10-8 rubber-legged Woolybugger trailer 1 ft behind the main fly)
Prime Time: April-June, October-December
License: District of Columbia
Access: Metro accessible (Woodley Park - Red Line), there is limited parking available at the park center and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Personally, I'd recommend walking down from the Woodley Metro.
Tidal Basin (DC)
Place: Home to the Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and George Mason Memorials (as well as the cherry blossoms each spring), the 107 acre Tidal Basin is one of the District's more historical landmarks. Known more for its paddle boats than its fly fishing, the Tidal Basin averages a depth of 10 ft throughout. Due to a lack of physical cover, fish will hold near the inlet gates during tidal changes or on the surrounding seawall, making them accessible to fly anglers. While wading is not allowed here, anglers do best by fishing the gates on an incoming tide or making sidearm casts along the seawall and stripping the fly back slowly. Usually dense with pedestrian foot traffic (especially during the Cherry Blossoms in April and summer months), the Tidal Basin is about as urban as it gets for fly fishing. However, anglers who can figure this often challenging area out (and don't mind having people constantly ask them, "are you fishing?") are rewarded with big largemouth, stripers, snakeheads, or carp.
Targets:
Striped Bass
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Snakehead
Carp
Catfish
Bluegill
Sunfish
Crappie
Rod: 5-8wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 9-10ft of 6-10 lb-test
Favorite Fly: Baitfish Pattern or Clouser Craw/Minnow
Prime Time: April-November
License: District of Columbia
Access: Parking can be found at West Potomac Park or on Maine Avenue near the Jefferson Memorial.
Targets:
Striped Bass
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Snakehead
Carp
Catfish
Bluegill
Sunfish
Crappie
Rod: 5-8wt, 9'ft
Line: Floating
Leader/Tippet: 9-10ft of 6-10 lb-test
Favorite Fly: Baitfish Pattern or Clouser Craw/Minnow
Prime Time: April-November
License: District of Columbia
Access: Parking can be found at West Potomac Park or on Maine Avenue near the Jefferson Memorial.