Where Rock Creeks meets the Potomac

[Jamie Carracher]

I haven't been on the water since Dec. 31 and am itching to get out. With the marathon tomorrow, I'm not sure how I'll be able to get out to Virginia from D.C. so I was considering closer to home.

I am curious about Rock Creek, specifically the portion in Georgetown where it meets the Potomac behind the House of Sweden. Has anyone hit that area up? Is it worth it? I'm just a little nervous about getting completely stuck in mud back there. 

Otherwise, I'll probably try and get over to 4MR. Thanks for your thoughts!

[Lane Smith]

It may be too early yet, but that's a really great spot for big catfish and carp once it gets a little warmer. Right now I think you'll only see a bunch of herring. That's all I'm seeing right now at least. Came out to support some friends in the Rock and Roll Marathon and took a peak.

Lane

[Hugh Fike]

Hey Lane,

What type of license do you have to have in order to fish this area?

[Andrew R]

Hugh,

See link: http://doee.dc.gov/service/get-fishing-license

$10 for the year (Jan 1-Dec 31) for DC resident, $13 for everyone else.

Jamie,

I scoped out that portion last week when I was in Georgetown and much like Lane said, didn't see much besides Herring. Also, be careful down there as that portion of the creek can be subject to sewage, a legacy of 19th and early 20th century urban engineering (re: combined sewer outflows "CFOs").

[Lane Smith]

Some more info about fishing the rock creek inlet:

The bottom is a combination of silt and something I'd describe as 'pluff mud' if we were further south. You can't wade it but you don't need to either because the banks are rarely open and amenable to roll casting. It's Farley deep in spots, maybe seven or eight feet between tides (which is deep for rock creek). That increases though the closer you get to the boat houses. There's a lot of structure (primarily tree roots and debris) you're probably going to lose some flies on if you're subsurface. I've never seen it clear enough to sight cast, but there are big fish in there - you can see them cruising through and/or attacking each other. I've seen 30"+ cats and carp, the occasional snakehead, smallmouths, and one time when they were electro shocking, I two strange looking fish that I think might have been baby sturgeon.

I've had success using nymphs under indicators but streamers/clousers/etc are hard because of all the structure.

Lane

[Jamie Carracher]

Thanks for the feedback! Interesting. I'll probably steer clear of this area unless I''m desperate to cast and I don't have a lot of time to get out of the city. I have tried it numerous times but haven't found it very enjoyable. Not a real relaxing setting.