Right now is really premium - usually. I have to be careful because it's been so long since I've been out THIS year that I don't know how the river is currently fishing. But USUALLY Fall is a good time.
Otherwise, be thinking June. April is unpredictable and the spawn is often on. May is the post-spawn funk. June the fishing can be pretty sweet. The Potomac and Shenandoah are big rivers and fish can be caught any month of the year. But generally speaking, June and late September/early October are my favorite times. In June, they're hungry as they emerge from the post-spawn funk and head into their summer hunting habitats. In the Fall, they're gorging to put on weight before winter hits.
If you time it right, the white miller hatch is usually in late July or August and the fishing then is unbelievable. I've seen folks take over 20 good smallmouth in an hour during a white miller hatch.
- Big D |