First time on the Potomac for a 10 year old

[Paul Kalajainen]

Hey all,

I'm taking my friends 10 year old son fishing Saturday morning.  They just moved here from Chicago, it'll be his first time fishing here.  I want to make sure he has a good first outing, we don't need to hook into anything big, just somewhere we can pull in some sunnies and whatnot.  I'm trying to decide between the tidal basin or somewhere on the C&O canal.

I haven't been out in the last couple weeks (waiting for the cooler weather), anyone have some advice?

Thanks!
Paul

[David Constantine]

Check the recent post about bluegill fishing on Widewater.  C/O Canal next to Old Angler's Inn.  Easy drive, parking, hike, and fishing. 

[Paul Kalajainen]

Is that a Maryland or Virginia fishing license needed up there?

[namfos]

According to NPS, a MD license is required.  If you were on the river,  MD or the state across the river would work.

[Paul Kalajainen]

Thanks for the advice David.  I took him up there on Saturday and we had a blast.  He pulled in blue gills cast after cast, along with one smallmouth.  They are currently doing construction on the Tow Path out there, so we had to park up near the Falls and walk down.  Maybe a 2 mile walk - no big deal but something to take note of if anyone else is headed up there soon.  The signs said the construction would be complete sometime this fall.

We saw some huge carp as well, but I haven't figured out how to entice them yet.

Anyway, great day, thanks for the help!

[Jeremy Dusina]

Paul,

 

On Sunday I ran up to the Old Angler's area of the C/O to hike with the family (and conduct some advance scouting of this location). One question - how was getting down to the fishable water? I have a 2.5 yr old and have been looking for a good blue location to get him hooked. From your post the frequency of blue gill strikes should do the trick!

 

Thanks,

Jeremy

[Paul Kalajainen]

Jeremy,

He caught quite a few out of the canal standing on the tow path.  Obviously it's incredibly easy to get there, kind of a large drop off the edge, but he had no problem hoisting the blue gills up to the path.  Each one he caught would spook the others nearby, but moving down the path 30-40 feet you could see another bed of them just waiting for you.  A bobber and a worm/grub is perfect in the shade of the trees there.

The pond that this post talks about also held quite a few blue gills (and the smallmouth he caught).  A little more difficult to get to, you have to head off the trail and hop down some rocks to get to the water.  You could probably carry him, but it would take a lot more effort than staying out on the canal.

Good luck!
Paul