First trip to Widewater

[Gadsden Merrill]

I finally made a trip out to Widewater on Saturday morning after reading about it here.  Despite the thousands of hikers, bikers, and other jokers there for God knows what, I found a parking spot right by the front of the parking area.  I stopped to cast anywhere along the tow path that I could climb down to the rocks at the waterline.  I was using a fast sinking poly leader on a floating line, so I don't think I was getting deep enough to catch anything until I got to the head by Lock 15.  The water was so shallow and clear there that the sun had warmed it up and I could see and catch lots of bluegills.  I only caught small ones, but I caught sight of some donkey-sized fish prowling around.  I also went above Lock 15 and caught a bunch more there (they looked more like perch than bluegills to me, but hey, they eat a fly).  

I'm planning on going back on a weekday with a full sinking line to try to fish the deeper part.  If anyone has ideas on how to fish that better, especially in cooler weather, I'd love to hear them.  I felt like I was getting short strikes in certain parts, but I couldn't convince myself they weren't rocks.  The Potomac stretches around there looked good to fish too, but deciding where to start made my head hurt so I'll save that until I can go with someone more knowledgeable.

Basically, if you haven't been there before, don't go cause you'll hate it :)

[namfos]

My inclination, if you're fishing the river there, is do it from a boat. I'm fairly certain wading there is verboten. One need only read the annual stories of people who have gone under and drowned in that stretch to think twice about it.

Widewater itself is one of my favorites when I need a close to home fix. "Backcast awareness" is called for unless you wish to reel in a biker or jogger.

Mark

[lamprey]

I always fish Widewater from the north side. Access from conduit road. 

[namfos]

I'm waiting for my tendonitis to clear up so I can fish from my kayak there.

Mark