Maryland ·
Potomac River Fly Fishing Report - October 25, 2026
POTOMAC RIVER
ReportOCT 25 — NOV 1, 2026
🌊
Flow
2710CFS
POTOMAC RIVER AT POINT OF ROCKS, MD
🌡️
Water Temp
58.1°F
Updated 2026-10-25
☀️
Weather
32–70°F
Widespread Frost
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow has dropped sharply to 2,710 cfs with a gauge height of 1.71 ft at Point of Rocks — significantly lower and cleaner than last week's elevated conditions — and water temperature sits at a prime 58.1°F, putting smallmouth bass in aggressive pre-winter feeding mode.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Joe's Mini Crayfish Jig #6
#6
Sculpzilla - Olive #4
#4
Tungsten Pat's Rubber Legs - Tan & Brown #6
#6
Bionic Hopper - Tan #12
#12
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
#14
Egan's Poacher - Olive #12
#12
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
#22
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Wiggly Worm (TBH) #8
#8
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | #20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | #20-22 | Moderate | 9 AM - 12 PM |
| Caddis | #18-20 | Light | 3 PM - 6 PM |
| Sculpin / Baitfish | #4-6 | Heavy | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| Crayfish | #6 | Heavy | 10 AM - 4 PM |
| Terrestrial (Ant) | #12-16 | Light | 1 PM - 4 PM |
Best Time Window
- 10 AM - 12 PM: Post-frost warmup window — smallmouth move shallow as sun hits the flats; prime time for sculpin and crayfish patterns along rocky structure.
- 12 PM - 3 PM: Peak surface activity — BWO hatch likely on flat water, hopper and ant patterns productive along vegetated banks in full sun.
- 3 PM - 6 PM: Late afternoon caddis and streamer window — swing sculpin and buggers through tailouts as light fades and bass stack up before dark.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith water temps at 58°F and flows dropping to a very fishable 2,710 cfs, smallmouth bass are in full pre-winter feed mode — this is one of the best windows of the year. Focus your morning on rocky seams and boulder gardens with sculpin and crayfish patterns, keeping your fly ticking bottom in 2–4 ft of water. Once the frost burns off and the sun warms the flats by late morning, switch to a surface hopper or ant along grassy banks and watch for aggressive topwater strikes. The frost overnight will slow fish until the air temperature climbs past 50°F, so don't rush the morning — let the sun do the work before you start casting.
Main Species
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Striped Bass
