| February 9th, 2024
Welcome back to the District Fishing Report! Just like that, January has come and gone, and we are already into February, which means we are getting closer to the exciting fishing opportunities that arrive in the Spring. While we still have some time to go before the weather warms up, there are still fishing opportunities throughout the latter half of winter in Washington D.C.
Blue catfish will always be a reliable winter target in the District, as they are abundant throughout our waterways. Angler Michael Whiffen let us know that the blue catfish bite has picked up from the Wilson Bridge to Chain Bridge. He says that the larger fish are still sticking to 20 to 35 feet of water since water temperatures at the surface are hovering in the upper 30’s. Another angler let us know that on his recent catfish trips, he has been catching fish in creek mouths and cove points adjacent to deeper water. Since water temperatures are very cold, the local warm water discharges are holding a lot of fish. Michael also let us know that the Blue Plains Advanced Water Treatment Plant is full of largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. Fishing around the concrete dock and rocky shorelines with deep diving crankbaits is a good strategy. Make sure to use a slow approach on your retrieves, as the fish will still be lethargic in the colder water. Bites will often feel like subtle thuds, so using braided line will really help you feel when a fish hits. Angler Devon Addison reported in to let us know that the crappie have been biting, but he has had to work to find them given the recent weather conditions. He says that ringer jigs have been working well to get the crappie to bite and that most fish are holding in 10 to 15 feet of water. The Washington Channel is a popular water body for crappie fishermen in the winter. The fish tend to school up around the marina docks and near the 395 Bridge.
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Angler Shane Jones holds up a 45-pound blue catfish that he caught on the upper Potomac.
Panfish are still a popular target for anglers in the winter. You just have to work a little harder to find them this time of year. Angler Devon Addison let us know that the crappie are still biting despite the colder water temperatures and muddy water. Most of the crappie and other panfish are holding in around 15 feet of water near structures, including bridges and docks. Small, soft plastic jigs and wacky-rigged worms are working well for getting the crappie to bite. There has been some buzz around the region about the news of a cicada hatch expected this spring. The brood of cicadas known as Brood XIX is expected to emerge, which could impact parts of the DMV, including the District. We can expect the cicadas to pop up when soil temperatures reach the mid-60’s, which should be from late May through early June, so we still have quite a while to go before they start appearing. This should be exciting news for anglers, as the cicada hatch can create excellent bite opportunities for a variety of species. Carp and bass will be cruising along shorelines where cicadas are hatching and dropping into the water looking for an easy meal. Gathering cicadas to use as bait is a good idea and floating them under a bobber is a great method for getting a hungry fish to bite. Fly fishermen will want to use flies that mimic the cicadas, especially topwater flies. Bass anglers will want to use baits that mimic cicadas as well, which will include soft plastic grubs, jigs, and crankbaits. Any shoreline with cicadas buzzing around will have a good chance of having fish nearby, so it is important to be observant on the water and look for signs of life that could lead to that next bite. It should be an exciting spring, so make sure to get all your gear preparations done now before the fishing really picks up. You won't want to miss those hot bites!
If you would like to submit information for the report, please email dillon.waters@dc.gov. If you would like to submit a photo to be included in the report, please send an email with photo attachments to fishandwildlife.photos@dc.gov. Tight lines everyone! 🎣
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