Potomac River Fishing
Fishing is a favorite pastime for many along the Potomac River. The river is home to several varieties of fish including small mouth bass, catfish, walleye, various sunfish, and the occasional tiger muskie.
Tiger Muskie – Potomac River near Dam 4 
Potomac River Fishing Information 
Small Mouth Bass – Potomac River near Taylor’s Landing
If you’re fishing from the riverbank, you will find many well established fishing holes from which to choose. The prime spots are easily identified by their well-trampled footpaths leading away from the towpath toward the river.
For fishing by boat, the river can easily be accessed from several nearby boat ramps. The closest is Taylor’s Landing, just a quarter mile down from The River Bend Retreat. Other downstream boat ramps are Snyder’s Landing, Shepherdstown, and Dargan Bend.
The closest upstream ramp is Big Slackwater. The large slackwater area above Dam #4 is suitable for canoes and kayaks and is also very popular for larger, motorized vessels. You can choose to stay above the dam in the deeper, calmer water, or you can begin your downstream float trip just below the dam. For more details on put-in/take-out locations, check out the information provided on our Potomac River Kayaking, Canoeing, and Tubing page.
Below Dam #4 the river can be traversed by canoe or kayak and even by motorboat when the water level is high enough. You can check current water levels by going to the National Weather Service or the USGS Current Conditions website. For canoeing and kayaking, it is recommended that water levels are between 2 and 4 feet.