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The Fishing Detective Guide Agency, LLC, 23816 janbeall Court, Clarksburg, MD (2026)

05/27/2026

The rain hasn’t stopped but trips continue. There is debris in the river so be careful boating. The fishing report will be here shortly and will center on popper and frog fishing.

05/14/2026

Thee Potomac River Fishing Detective Guide Agency Fishing Report brought to you by Simms, Seaguar, Dobyns Rods, Costa, Power Pole, and kuiu. Also special financial sponsors being Edward Jones and the Montgomery County Police Retirement System. A U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain that is licensed as a charter boat through PRFC. Fully insured as a charter boat through Gallagher Charter Lakes.

The fishing year of 2026 will be my 11th year as a full time fishing guide. The service is strictly catch and release except for snakeheads. The service has full (7 hrs) and half day (4 hr morning/evening) trips for bass, snakeheads and stripers. Rates are 325 half day, 525 full day for two anglers.

The Potomac River fish report May 6-13.

I always hear “I could be a fishing guide” - yes anybody can be a fishing guide but very few will be successful or even truly understand the work of a guide. The naive believe all that is necessary is to be a good fisherman but it’s far more complicated. This is exactly why I don’t pay attention to most dock talk and stay on my lane. The work of a guide is to find accessible fish with relatively easy, basic techniques with minimum casting using artificial baits that don’t need a bunch of skill. I don’t care about “19 pounds” or “a check” or “flipping trees” or “they are on docks” - I do these things when I fish by myself but when I’m with clients I look for a bunch of fish in a relatively small area and so do most good guides that I’ve been around. Consequently, the fishing report is a compilation of my experiences of fishing by myself and fishing with clients. They just aren’t the same experiences.

The main changes this week is that hydrilla is making its appearance in many creeks and the main river. The milfoil was minimal this year and consequently the boats swarmed the rocks. The hydrilla will spread out fish and fishermen. There is more curly pondweed than I remember in aquia, potomac creek and outside the rocks. The pads have some spawners on the stems and post spawners working the edges. The hydrilla will continue to spread until August when it reaches its peak then slowly dies.

The guiding centered on laydowns with stick worms. Grass flats with chatterbaits and dropshots. Spawning flats with underwater wood with soft plastics like a rage craw and 1/8 ounce weight. Pad edges on lower water also produced some bigger fish. I did spend a lot of time looking for wood off the bank but the truth is that current washes away most wood except that is in coves. However if you find wood that’s located in a little deeper water - that is a great spot.

The laydowns were the most productive but they must be fished exactly and some trees produce more than others. The fish are going to lie very close to the biggest trunks that are in the water. The tree should be fished outside to inside - fish the outer tree first and they will be there in low water. Then move in to the trunk areas that are submerged. The fish won’t move far to get a bait so pitching or casting must be precise and so must be the position of the boat. Skipping a senko should be practiced.

The water got low much of the week and many fish were stationed right in the middle of creek channels. This was very productive in one particular creek where throwing a spinnerbait right down the middle of the creek produced a lot of bigger fish. There’s a lot of things that fish relate to other than wood or grass and sometimes it’s shadows or bait or depth changes. In some of the creeks - the bigger fish just moved into the main channel until incoming tides allow them to move into other cover.

I fished a lot of docks with a chatterbait and pitching plastics. This is a practice in precise casting and I enjoy getting better at casting. It’s important and very underrated. Skipping a chatterbait takes practice but a skipped senko with a spinning rod does the job just fine. It’s just a bit slower fishing but probably more productive. I like docks at lower tides where many fish move out to the outside posts. I fished a lot of main river docks this week.

Guiding is hard on a shallow water fishery when there’s a lot people and fishing pressure. The casting is the only thing that I look at with a client. The more people - the spookier the fish and the tighter to cover they hold. It will be necessary to cast very well when fishing docks or laydowns. Grass flats, spawning flats, under water wood - not so much. However, you just won’t do as well because of trolling mother noise, muddy water from props, noise, and just the mere presence of humans will alert fish and make it harder especially for the weekend angler. If I was to give some bits of advice to people fishing the weekend - 1. Practice casting and pitching. The fish are very very close to cover. 2. Fish the evening hours. Most tournaments are over and fish will go back to their basic behaviors. 3. Smaller boats have an advantage and can get back into areas that aren’t pressured.

The mistakes I saw this week were basically from knowing a little but thinking you know a lot. If you are unwilling to listen or take instruction then there’s little I can do but catch the fish for you. Here’s examples that may help you rethink some things :
1. Not all chatterbaits are the same. A client refused to change his big chatterbait for a smaller version despite getting smoked by his partner. He said - I’m fishing the same bait. No you are not - chatterbait profiles, vibrations, sink rates etc do matter.
2. I can’t emphasize enough that a bait must be cast with bad intentions and not in the general vicinity of a log. It has to cast beyond the cover and worked in a manner that it touches the cover. It must be stopped when it’s right next to the cover.
3. The senko - if you have adhd and can’t work it slow and on the bottom then just throw a crankbait. It’s probably the most productive bait on the potomac but it must be fished slowly, on the bottom, and feeling for underwater cover. You are fishing for cover as much as fish. When cover is felt - the senko is stopped. People think they have to work a senko - when in fact it works itself.

Every tributary of the Potomac has bass. Every tributary has certain key areas. The difference is knowing those key areas and then presenting your baits properly. If you mess up - boat too loud, getting too close, trolling motor wash, bad cast, etc - well you are in 2 feet of water so you missed that opportunity because they are gone.

It was a good week. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my fishing lately. I caught them every single way you can catch them this week but I also know that things change very quickly. I try to “keep my mind right” and not get too distracted by all the distractions on the river. I try to schedule outside tournament hours because my clients suffer with too many boats. I try to be honest and refer potential clients to catfish charters if they are new to fishing. I try to teach to the teachable and curious and I keep my mouth shut after I’ve provided input that is not followed by the YouTube crowd. I like half day afternoon trips. I like to fish by myself on rainy days on an empty river. Everything I do and everything I say is in the best interest of my clients. I don’t need to sell anything and I don’t need the money so if I provide a recommendation then you can be assured I only want you to have the best opportunity at catching a fish and having a good time. Enjoy your fishing.

05/12/2026

The weather can force cancellations. Yesterday the forecast was for a cloudy day with 5mph winds. The reality was that when we arrived at the ramp in the morning - it was raining and the wind was blowing. We cancelled and that was the right decision for the clients because it continued to rain until noon. I stayed and fished because I love when the river is empty of people.

05/09/2026

The guiding week is over and we caught a bunch of fish. I feel really good about my fishing right now. That doesn’t always result in fish but I’ve been all over the river this year and feel like I get it - the river, the fish, etc. Also I’m getting “guiding” - I know what I can do and what I can’t do as far as what fish are accessible to the people I take out. I now understand why experienced guides that I know fish the way they do - I get it ! I understand the business practices of a good guide. I do miss talking to people that “get it” but there were only 2 out of a lot of people and I don’t expect I’ll ever find those people again. I spent 27 years in my past profession and there was a distinct and measurable evolution - each unit, each assignment, each case, every mistake - was necessary and the competency at year 27 was much different than year 1, 5, 10 or 26. I’m still learning every day but lately - I feel good about who I’ve become as a guide.

05/05/2026

It’s been a busy few weeks. The new fishing report is in its way. No pushing product, no infomercial vibes, no used car salesman disingenuousness - just bass and snakehead fish time on the water.

04/20/2026

Thee Potomac River Fishing Detective Guide Agency Fishing Report brought to you by Simms, Seaguar, Dobyns Rods, Costa, Power Pole, and kuiu. Also special financial sponsors being Edward Jones and the Montgomery County Police Retirement System. A U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain that is licensed as a charter boat through PRFC. Fully insured as a charter boat through Gallagher Charter Lakes.

The fishing year of 2026 will be my 11th year as a full time fishing guide. The service is strictly catch and release except for snakeheads. The service has full (7 hrs) and half day (4 hr morning/evening) trips for bass, snakeheads and stripers. Rates are 325 half day, 525 full day for two anglers. I also have 1 angler rate.

Report April 12 - April 18, 2026. Tidal Potomac from Aquia to DC.

River conditions - the water surface temperatures ranged from mid 60’s to mid 70’s. The wind calmed down most of the week but there were a couple of days exhibited extremely low water conditions with not much water at even high tide. The water clarity may be a little dingy for many people but that will remain that color until grass filters.

Grass conditions - I only bring this up because aquatic grass benefits the rivers entire ecosystem. It provides habitat for spawning, it attracts the entire food chain, it cleans the water.. the fish often stay put in grass areas. Currently there isn’t a lot of grass but it is increasing. Until it expands then everybody will be in front of the rocks. I have traveled quite a bit to fish grass and a client mentioned that things are bad when I travel to areas that I usually don’t visit. The grass situation is exactly as it was last year - maybe worse. There is very little to none in chicamuxen, martawoman, Pohick, occoquan, aquia - but hydrilla comes in later than milfoil so currently it simply reminds me of 2025.

The pads are up so the edges are good at lower tides and with the spawn they will be in pads up on the flats.

The patterns and lures -
Wood - with little grass many fish are caught on wood. Any wood- laydowns, dock posts, or wood on the bottom away from bank - is holding fish. Potomac bass hold tight on wood and often require very specific presentations to specific spots on a tree. The tide positions the fish and dictates accessibility. High tides often bring in bigger fish that want to get up on the bases of laydowns and lower tides bring them to the edges. I like to throw plastics after I run a moving bait in front of trees. Then a creature bait like a pit boss or googan bandito bug pitched to trunk areas are good. The docks I like on mid tides but they position like a tree - outer posts during low tides, etc. We have been throwing white mini max under docks and then pitching the pit boss against pilings

Marsh edges - the marsh edges are still accessible and during outgoing tides I’ve been throwing a white or green pumpkin swim jig close to the marsh edges. The presence of baitfish will announce good opportunity.

Grass - of course - grass. However if you are against fishing with other boats then you will have to look to other patterns. I only talk about the rocks because on a week day there were 30 boats and on the weekend I don’t even stop. I like grass fishing so I’ve looked elsewhere. I hate to say that I love the chatterbait but I do use it a lot. I slow down with drop shot, wacky worm and ned rig.

The snakehead fishing has been pretty good with the majority of them caught on chatterbait in grass patches. They also like that swim jig on very low tides up against marsh edges. Of course, you can catch a snakehead anywhere you can catch a bass and with the same variety of baits.

Lures of the weak - blue/black pit boss and white mini max chatterbait.

I do believe that many of the bass we caught this week were in a position to spawn. I prefer high tides during the spawning season because that seems like the conditions that summon bigger fish onto shallow flats. The spawn occurs very quickly and I think in some areas it’s over. I would think the full moon at end of month will complete the spawn for majority of fish.

Good fishing.

04/08/2026

Thee Potomac River Fishing Detective Guide Agency Fishing Report brought to you by Simms, Seaguar, Dobyns Rods, Costa, Power Pole, and kuiu. Also special financial sponsors being Edward Jones and the Montgomery County Police Retirement System. A U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain that is licensed as a charter boat through PRFC. Fully insured as a charter boat through Gallagher Charter Lakes.

The fishing year of 2026 will be my 11th year as a full time fishing guide. The service is strictly catch and release except for snakeheads. The service has full (7 hrs) and half day (4 hr morning/evening) trips for bass, snakeheads and stripers. Rates are 325 half day, 525 full day for two anglers. I also have 1 angler rate.

The Report describes fishing on the Tidal Potomac for March and early April.

General River Conditions - the current river water temperatures can fluctuate quite a bit in a day but generally they are in the low to mid 60’s. The wind has been pretty stiff so water can get dirty pretty quick in tributaries depending on wind direction. In general, the water is dingy in most areas of the river. There is very little grass so water won’t be very clean until more grass grows to filter.

Grass report - the aquatic grass is very important to the health of the rivers ecosystem and without it early spring fishing doesn’t lend itself to big concentrations of bass in one general area. There are patches of grass in occoquan/belmont and in Aquia. However, there isn’t much so the areas get pounded. I did find some milfoil and had a fantastic day but it’s in a popular area so I’m sure as I’m writing this - everybody is sharing its rather obvious location. However, when I found it there wasn’t a boat in sight and it only proved that this grass is a magical elixir for potomac bass and snakeheads. We caught 50 bass and snakeheads that weighed up to nearly 15 pounds.

Fishing Patterns- I’ve fished from Broad Creek to Aquia. I haven’t been to DC or Potomac Creek. That being said - the DC patterns are pretty consistent since I was a kid. If Pentagon lagoon has grass - it’s a smash fest but it hasn’t lately. Washington Channel will have bass but again that’s dependent on grass. Otherwise it’s hard cover - spoils, smoot bay, four mile creek and maybe - Belle haven.

I spend most of my time in the areas surrounding Leesylvania. The main patterns were docks, lay downs and marsh edges. The grass I have found is where I tend to stay with customers but when by myself I’ve fished docks and lay downs. It’s important to look for life in a creek - birds and baitfish. Most of March has been running into creeks and fishing marsh edges on mid tide with red crankbaits and white chatterbaits. At the lower tides - I fish the ends of docks with the same baits but also pitch a jig or creature bait. Most of March was “junk fishing” - just moving around and fishing the cover I described.

It’s no secret that a little grass is in occoquan/belmont - this past weekend had more boats there than fish. If you like fishing at a social event - you can get all the social interaction there that even an extrovert can stand. The other grass I have found - I’m not going to say - but it’s not hard to find - grass grows or doesn’t grow in the same areas every year.

Much of the river isn’t conducive to “guide fishing” and I feel stressed. Junk fishing trees and docks is a recipe for failure for a guide. Marsh edge fishing is better for a guide but there hasn’t been a lot of reliable fish. I need flats and grass where people don’t have to target cast or make a lot of casts with moving baits. That’s why many of the best guides I know have relied on the Texas rigged senko fished on gravel or grass flats. This is just a fact and adds to the challenge of guiding on the Potomac. It’s a carpenter that is restricted to a screw driver - you need to make it work while not placing people in a position to fail. My main focus with people is watching them cast - then I know the restrictions of the day.

The past full moon did bring males onto wood in shallow spawning coves and some big females were caught. The next full moon will result in the major spawn. You don’t want to be there on the full moon but you certainly want to be there the week prior as fish become accessible. In the north - they are coming to spoils and smoot. In the south they will be in pads, grass or wood. Pads are the areas where a lot of bass spawn south of Pohick. Hopefully the aquatic grass will spread out to give bass good spawning habitat by late April. Until then - moving baits will be effective but when they get near beds - plastics are much more effective.

I don’t know any secrets but it is important to be cognizant of the tides. Everybody is fishing the same stuff so it’s important to know when a bite window may open and that’s pretty reliant on tides. You can be fishing a good area and not know it because that good area is only good for a half hour. The spring is a good time for a higher tide because they aren’t looking to feed but to spawn. However, not all bass spawn at the same time so the outgoing tides are best for feeders.

I’m just getting over a great day where we caught 50 bass and numerous big snakeheads. These concentrations need certain conditions and I found them but they don’t last long. The boats will be on these areas now because they will become obvious. The grass will spread out and so will the fish but when you find those special areas as they first emerge in the spring - you are in for a special day. I’m pretty sure it’s done now but man I had a great time and that’s why early spring is special.

If you want to catch a snakehead - then it’s marsh edges or grass or pads. Just throw a chatterbait but I’ve caught some nice ones on a red crankbait. I fished little hunting, Pohick, chicamuxen, matrawoman, quantico, pomonkey, aquia and neabsco as well as the flats and creeks around Belmont. The snakeheads sniff out that grass like a largemouth. They also like docks and all the hard cover. Snakehead fishing is just bass fishing this time of year.

My clientele profile has changed quite a bit in the last few years. I haven’t been busy in early spring because most clients aren’t serious bass fishermen. I can look at my calendar and see that the warmer months are much busier. It’s been that way for a few years. I also know people try to fish like they buy stocks. They wait for the Facebook pictures but by the time they see the fish catches - the opportunity is gone. I promise nothing and I don’t answer “how’s the bite”? I show up every day - but I’ve learned quite a bit that things change very very rapidly. I have no idea what fish do from day to day but it will have something to do with eating or making little bass. That’s a long way of saying that you must show up and be on the water - it shapes your skills but also your expectations. It makes you observant to nature and know what matters and what doesn’t matter. If that isn’t you - then I recommend you tie on a white chatterbait with a hawk hunter trailer and cast as many times as possible. 😁.

Good fishing. Take care of the Potomac and the resource. Don’t cut people off and nobody cares if you are fishing a tournament. Try not to be the stereotype. If a kid picks up trash at a park - take a picture - and I’ll take him and a guest fishing for half price.

04/07/2026

Every year I’m going to have a few truly great days on the Potomac and yesterday was one of them in 2026. I caught nearly 50 bass and 5 snakeheads with two of them weighing 12.86 and 14.39. Considering all the time that I spend out there - I deserve those few epic days a year. The equation for truly great days usually - but not always - includes finding what is pictured on the depth finder especially in early spring. Yesterday will probably be the only day that I have the spot to myself (another important part of equation) but I found it and I had it if only for the day. Sometimes I really like myself - I work hard and sometimes it pays off. No - working hard always pays off - maybe not instantly but eventually. Add to the fact that the day was beautiful and it was a smooth ride back to the dock - just a wonderful day.

04/02/2026

They are biting but it’s not good “guiding” fishing. What do I mean ? The fishing report is coming back and I’ll explain everything that a guide that ain’t dependent on the money is willing to tell you.

03/26/2026

The 2026 season is in full swing. Pete with a 5-09 personal best lunker on a dropshot.

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