Pacemaker Fishing Forum

backtofuturetoyota · Jul-31-25 11:34AM

Folks,

One thing I enjoy about my boat is that it's comfortable and safe. Plenty of shade and cushioned seats and everything you need for skiing or fishing.

Here's the problem.....how the heck do I fish from a boat when I don't go into the shallows? I mean it's a V hull and I dare not get too shallow or am I just being too safe? I hate to get the motor in the muck and I've already run into a abandoned net situation last year (not that it would stop me as I'm better prepared now).

Any suggestions on what kind of fishing and how I would setup? I have pole holders for trolling if you're wondering (2 on each side at different angles). With so many crab pots out there it's like slalom at the mouth of the harbors, but once in the open I'm clear.

I'm familiar with how Capt Mike does it in the shallows, but have no idea other than dropping a bottom rig for cats. And even then it's a pretty big body of water, so I'll take any advice you guys have.

Ernie · Jul-31-25 11:44AM

Where are you thinking of fishing?

And what boat do you have (draft)?

Once upon various times, I had 3 different V-hull boats, 17', 19' & 20'. I fished the 'mac with all of them from DC down to th 310 Bridge and sometimes beyond. Heck I even fished for white perch with the 20'er and had to tell Mo and Paul to get out so we could get off the sandbar,

Trial and error (don't want that too much) will help you establish your boundaries.

drxfish · Jul-31-25 2:41PM

I wish I could help. I have never owned a V hull or larger boat. Those are meant for stability in bigger water. Lots of fish to be caught in deeper water. Plus, you get to water ski!

backtofuturetoyota · Jul-31-25 6:39PM

I was thinking the potomac in the open waters near and around Quantico and can run up north to occoquon or south to (I forget the name) the areas where ernie goes for WP on the Md side.

Have a grady white 215 freedom and is about 23 ft total w swim platform. 16" hull draft

I could run across to mallows bay and try it there. Any suggestions on rigs to throw?

hookup · Jul-31-25 7:37PM

Take it down to lake Anna and fish w/ Curly?

Ernie · Jul-31-25 9:00PM

In the spring, you can catch stripers near Marshall Hall.

Stripers are always prevalent in DC waters. Look up some of our (Curly) trips from a long time ago.

The 310 bridge holds stripers and you might find a red or blue in the mix.

Shallow water perch fishing is not for your boat...generally. Can be done by carefully.

backtofuturetoyota · Aug-01-25 11:43AM

George, I never intended on trailering it anywhere except from the boatel to the water so never got a trailer. Although I do have lake anna friends I can always borrow a boat from for curly fishing! He's my lake anna idol of course (fishing machine).

I'll need to go back what....2010 timeframe for those trips at DC? I can't remember when curly moved permanently south. I believe fishing near structure is the key here, so I'll start looking around for those things. Kinda like crabbing.....if you could catch crab cakes more people would be doing it!!

Ernie · Aug-01-25 3:04PM

Search for: "Potomac River (DC) Report" and it should take you to many of the reports. Sometimes I forgot to put "DC" in the title. Or "DC waters".

Also check out Pohick Bay reports.

Have fun...

Where does the boat sleep?

backtofuturetoyota · Aug-01-25 3:26PM

will do ernie! thank you.

The boat sleeps at hope springs! I live just around the corner from there (6-7 min drive). Easy and convenient for all things.

Ernie · Aug-01-25 3:41PM

backtofuturetoyota wrote:
The boat sleeps at hope springs!

That's a long way from DC or even Pohick.

The 301 Bridge (and below) can offer great striper fishing (closed right now) and even blues and reds. And blue cats galore! You should go out with Chad Koenig (Dog Days Fishing) one day and then duplicate what he does. He goes out of Machodoc Creek Marina.

hookup · Aug-01-25 5:18PM

The post gave me enough data to hone in on "fishing aquia creek" and found a few links

Here's a few

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishi … uia-creek/

https://fishbrain.com/fishing-waters/dY … quia-creek

It's a start

Ernie · Aug-01-25 5:25PM

backtofuturetoyota wrote:
Have a grady white 215 freedom and is about 23 ft total w swim platform. 16" hull draft

This prevents shallow water fishing. You need at least 2' of water depth to be safe. Plus the boat becomes a sail in some wind.

My 20'er (Hydra Sport) got stuck a few times when I thought I had 2' under me. Not all bottoms appear to be the same.

I think it's best that Paul learns to fish the main river.

backtofuturetoyota · Aug-01-25 6:37PM

Thanks gents! I really appreciate your insight and resources! I'm going to play it safe as ernie suggested and use the links that george provided. As you may know....pacemakerfishing forum is my only source of knowledge simply because I trust it!

Only as an adult do I realize that the guys at the outdoor store who sold bait would tell my friends and I that "they" were catching crappie and other fish like crazy under the bridge at the reservoir....only to realize that they were just getting rid of the bait.

hookup · Aug-01-25 7:19PM

backtofuturetoyota wrote:
links that george provided

In addition to the links, continue with Google on variations of "fishing", "aquia creek", and some of the term's Ernie provided

We'll get you virtually on fish!

backtofuturetoyota · Aug-05-25 12:03PM

hookup wrote:
The post gave me enough data to hone in on "fishing aquia creek" and found a few links

Here's a few

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishi … uia-creek/

https://fishbrain.com/fishing-waters/dY … quia-creek

It's a start

Thanks for the links George!

But this is a prime example of why Pacemakerfishing Forum is the best out there. We stay current, we're active, we have actual friendships (regardless of meeting in person) and we have the best moderator around!

The two links have not been updated in sometime and offer very little information. Literally, one of them hasn't been active since 2013.

We should get a couple of us together and look into solving the platform issue. This can't be one Ernie's shoulders by himself.

Osprey · Aug-05-25 2:05PM

Just getting caught up on posts since a month away. I see lots of good advice in this thread. the only thing I'd add is to avoid Mallows Bay. There's not much left of al of the sunken ships, but there are plenty of submerged spikes still waiting for a hull to poke.

backtofuturetoyota · Aug-05-25 4:29PM

Osprey wrote:
Just getting caught up on posts since a month away. I see lots of good advice in this thread. the only thing I'd add is to avoid Mallows Bay. There's not much left of al of the sunken ships, but there are plenty of submerged spikes still waiting for a hull to poke.

Great advice! I honestly wasn't sure about that area and what lurks below, so I think this is a very true statement. Thanks!! and Welcome back!

backtofuturetoyota · Aug-11-25 2:08PM

Update, I have set up a couple rods to prep my time on the river and realized I went out without a fishing bag! So, I did find a great spot along the MD shore just south of the Aquia inlet. It is a point where the river does a turn east. The waters are about 5-7 ft deep, which is unusual for this section of the river from my experience (within 20 yds of the shore). It's also apparently a popular spot since I saw a lot of drift wood piled up to look like teepees.

Anyway, I marked a lot of fish below and the bottom was sandy. Easy to anchor and face the current/winds/waves. So, I washed down the stern of the boat with the raw water pump (to get any dust and bird poop off) and then took a nice nap under the bow bimini! It was a very restful 4 hours....I think I needed that!

I went to grab a link from imgur of a pic I took, but it didn't provide me the typical selection (just a copy link selection). Let's see how this turns out.

Ernie · Aug-11-25 2:39PM

Fixed it.

That's a very nice boat!!

Sometimes chillin' is what the doctor ordered.

backtofuturetoyota · Aug-11-25 5:36PM

Ernie wrote:
Fixed it.

That's a very nice boat!!

Sometimes chillin' is what the doctor ordered.

Thank you sir! The base requirement was a on board head per the boss! lol

drxfish · Aug-11-25 6:04PM

That looks very comfortable! You can do a lot with a boat like that. Especially if you have kids. Thanks for the update. Look forward to future reports.

hookup · Aug-12-25 4:25PM

Luv the bean bag

You need to break that boat in with some fish scales and blood stains

Bryan · Aug-12-25 4:45PM

You could take that boat out into the bay for cobia. Lounging in the shade sipping a beer waiting for the clicker to go off...great way to spend a day.

backtofuturetoyota · Aug-12-25 5:46PM

Bryan wrote:
You could take that boat out into the bay for cobia. Lounging in the shade sipping a beer waiting for the clicker to go off...great way to spend a day.

Agree bryan! Made for the salt for sure. I never got a trailer for it since I never intended to trailer it anywhere since it lives in the boatel. But, I'm thinking about exactly as you state....just drop a line and wait for the click!

And, the bean bag....yeah....it's hard to get out of it once you get cozy. haha

Pacemaker Fishing Forum

#1 Jul-31-25 11:34AM

Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#2 Jul-31-25 11:44AM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#3 Jul-31-25 2:41PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#4 Jul-31-25 6:39PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#5 Jul-31-25 7:37PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#6 Jul-31-25 9:00PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#7 Aug-01-25 11:43AM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#8 Aug-01-25 3:04PM

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#9 Aug-01-25 3:26PM

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#10 Aug-01-25 3:41PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

backtofuturetoyota wrote:

#11 Aug-01-25 5:18PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#12 Aug-01-25 5:25PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

backtofuturetoyota wrote:

#13 Aug-01-25 6:37PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#14 Aug-01-25 7:19PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

backtofuturetoyota wrote:

#15 Aug-05-25 12:03PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

hookup wrote:

#16 Aug-05-25 2:05PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#17 Aug-05-25 4:29PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

Osprey wrote:

#18 Aug-11-25 2:08PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#19 Aug-11-25 2:39PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#20 Aug-11-25 5:36PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

Ernie wrote:

#21 Aug-11-25 6:04PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#22 Aug-12-25 4:25PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#23 Aug-12-25 4:45PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

#24 Aug-12-25 5:46PM

Re: Need Guidance on Boat Fishing the Potomac

Bryan wrote:

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