Right now: 49 for smallmouth bass, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours
Smallmouth bass, hour by hour
Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.
493 am
49
49
496 am
39
39
399 am
39
41
4912 pm
49
49
493 pm
49
41
396 pm
39
39
399 pm
39
39
39Tue
39
41
413 am
41
41
416 am
49
49
499 am
49
49
4912 pm
41
41
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out
Right now
Water
No reading
Smallmouth bass range 55–78°
Wind
1 mph
From the west
Flow
3,120 cfs
steady · -8% in 24 h
Light
Dark
Sunrise 7:29 am
Sky
Mostly Clear
No rain expected
Air
41°F
NWS hourly forecast
Barometer
Falling
Measured, last 3 hours
Moon
100% lit
Full
What’s biting
Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Maryland non-tidal regulations for these waters.
No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.
Why
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.
Keep
12" minimum · 5 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 12" minimum (or as set by special regulation), 5 bass a day combined with largemouth, kept only Jun 16 to the last day of February. Catch and release is allowed at all times. Bass may not be used as bait.
No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.
Why
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–25 ft down.
Keep
12" minimum · 5 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 12" minimum (or as set by special regulation), 5 bass a day combined with smallmouth, kept only Jun 16 to the last day of February. Catch and release is allowed at all times. Bass may not be used as bait.
Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works
Fishing report
No current report covers these waters.
We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Virginia DWR has the state’s fishing pages.
Upper Potomac above Great Falls — classic smallmouth water with wadable riffles and rocky runs. No motorized boats allowed; wading anglers have this stretch mostly to themselves. Strong current at Great Falls downstream.
No motorized boats. Currents can be fast and deceptive — wade with caution. Fairfax County park; free access. The river here is Maryland water, so Maryland rules apply; Virginia or Maryland resident freshwater licenses are both honored.
Pohick Bay Regional Park23 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 7 am–2 pm
100Go
Monocacy River — Buckeystown24 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 9 am–1 pm
74Worth the trip
Questions people ask
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac you need a Maryland non-tidal fishing license issued by MD DNR (and a separate Maryland trout stamp if targeting trout in non-tidal waters). See the agency's current rules: https://dnr.maryland.gov/pages/service_fishing_license.aspx
What fish are commonly targeted at Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac?
Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac have?
Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. No motorized boats. Currents can be fast and deceptive — wade with caution. Fairfax County park; free access. The river here is Maryland water, so Maryland rules apply; Virginia or Maryland resident freshwater licenses are both honored.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac?
Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac tidal water?
No. Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.
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