Northern Division season will start at the Potomac River
MARBURY, Md. – This year, the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Northern Division season begins on the Potomac River in late June. A fantastic tidal fishery, the Potomac is in good shape ahead of the event, and the historic river nearly always puts out a good tournament. With grass and hard cover to fish, anglers will have plenty of good options to put fish in the boat.
For anglers still looking to make the Toyota Series Championship, either by regular points or the Wild Card Division, the Northern Division season represents a great chance to do so. Between the Potomac, the St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain, there’s a lot of meat left on the fishing season.
What to expect
A major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac is a great largemouth fishery, with big bays and creeks that are full of bass and vegetation. There are also plenty of docks, rip rap banks and other hard structures to hold fish, and anglers can put together a variety of game plans.
When it comes to the Potomac, one of the best things about it is that it constantly changes. Year to year, different grass beds hold populations of fish, and a waypoint is never guaranteed to stay good for long. This year, as is the case every year, anglers will need to roll with the punches.
“This year there’s not a lot of grass,” Joseph Thopmson said. “The community areas, they’re not going to hold boats like they used to. The river is going to fish a lot bigger, in the sense that people are probably going to be running all over, having to do a little bit of everything.”
With less grass, and maybe fewer places to really camp in, anglers who are adept at running the tide could have an advantage.
“There’s less milfoil, it’s just eelgrass and hydrilla,” Thompson said. “I think you’re going to see people bouncing around. The good news is, it’s a perfect tide, the way I look at the tide. I think that’s a good thing.”
As for weights, Thompson thinks that things will be about standard for the Potomac, with a winning weight around 50 pounds or perhaps a little more.
Baits to bring
At the Potomac, there’s a 100% chance that ChatterBaits and swim jigs will play, and the staples are pretty well-known by now.
“It’s going to be your standard stuff,” Thompson said. “A lot of topwaters in play, but being versatile is going to be key to get through three days.”
Of course, the Potomac is a fairly pressured body of water, so don’t overlook the outliers. Finesse in the form of a drop-shot or weightless Senko is always a winner, and there should be a place for Coike-style baits as well.
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