The Mid-Atlantic's - Potomacbass Message Board

BassDaddy · Guest

Hello All,
I am new to this site and just bought my first bass boat 3 weeks ago. I have a 1996 Stratos 268DC 17' w/88hp Johnson. My question is I took it out on the potomac last weekend from under the 123 bridge (forgot the marinia name). We went out past the no wake zone to find a lot of cruisers out there. Being aware of the boats around me I brought up on a simi-plane and began to plane out. The ride was terrible! The water was so rough and it seemed like the boat was going to rip inhalf (hearing the slapping under the boat). Is this normal? I have asked alot of friends about it and they told me to stick inland and fish, but what if I want to cross into MD. Can I open it up or is the Potomac to rough for planing bass boats? I surely thought the ride would be also smoother! If anyone can help out a new boater please reply...

Clayton · Newbie Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 7 Location: Woodbridge

If you get out on the river early enough you will be able to open up your boat. Boat traffic gets very heavy on the weekends as the joy riders wake up. I have a 18' Triton with a 150hp and am able to run wide open when there is minimal boat traffic, which is not very often on the Potomac. Some of the creeks are usually calm, but the main river can get rough very quick, so be careful. As for the slapping sound you should have bought a Triton (only kidding). You may want to back of the throttle a little. This is were a hot foot peddle is nice.

Stillie · Guest

Fisherboy · Newbie Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 15 Location: Maryland

Ditto to the above comments.

I would spend a little more time on the water and get familiar with the boat before I tackled the Potomac when it's rough. I ran my old 18-foot Ranger from Aquia to DC and back on a few nasty days. It was miserable and only a few times, that I wished I stayed home. Had I not had years of seat time I would have never attempted it.

Get used to your boat and try to head out a little further each time. Keep the bow up and hit the wake straight on. When you get to know your boat, you'll know when to get on or off the throttle.

I know someone will probably say to hit wake at an angle, and that's the case sometimes, but more often than not your better to hit it straight. Do some research on the web, there are some great driving tips out there.

lilschnetz · Guest

When it's rough, it's rough for everyone. I ran a 14ft jon boat out there for 4 years. Backed it down when rough, and ate water every now and then. Stick to the creeks, and use the main river just to get to the honey holes. I would NOT bang that NITRO in bad water for long periods of time. Your going to find you've loosened a few things on that boat. Your also going to find stress fractures in parts of the hull years down the road. I've been on the water all my life, and I still back it down when the river gets busy. NOT just for the boat or butt sake. Safety, other boats, debis in the water, loss of unsecure tackel....etc. Put in at Smallwood, or Slavins in Mattawoman. That boat is fine for this river. Other than the rough water, How you like your Nitro? I have the 750NX, and love it.

BassDaddy · Guest

Thanks guys for all th replys. They do help. Since I wrote that post I have taken the Stratos out to Mattawomen Creek from Spotsavania (oops). It was during the week around 3pm, very calm water. Once we arrived at Mattawomen it couldn't have gotten any better. WE WERE SLAMMING FISH!! Two nice 4 lbers and 6 2 1/2 lbers.

thanks

Ranger487 · Guest

On a windy, warm, weekend, I don't think the Queen Mary is big enough for the Potomac. Especially where the river widens out around Occoquan and Mattawoman creeks. Normally, your 17 footer is fine for the river, however, I've been on the river in my 21 footer and wished I weren't.

Keep things tight by going over your boat after every trip and check for minor cracks in the gel coat after a particularly hard ride. Minor cracks have a habit of becoming problems over time.

Good Luck.

scottb · Guest

THe Potomac can get shallow in spots, especially after a week without rain. In some cases the shallower you can go the better it is.

Dadeo · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:13 pm Post subject: Potomac River in a Small Boat?

We boat and fish on the Potomac in your typical family bowrider. The wife and kids love boating and I had to setle for a Stingray, which is a deep V hull with a shallower modifed bow. Its only 18 feet, but its more of a deep V hull than any bass boat so it takes the waves better, but even it can get wet up front coming off plane into a 2+ foot chop. Be careful, get to know the river, use charts, and you should be all right. There are spots on the river which are particurlary choppy.... and the Occaquan Bay is one of them. It's wide, shallow (less than 10 feet) and can really whip it up. We were out last Saturday, didn't catch much (we went up to Pohick Bay), and it was very very windy. We saw NO bass boats out on the main river that were less than 20 feet. We got a little wet, but had a lot of fun anyway. I've got 30 years of small boating experiance. The advice given here to check things over after a rough water day is excellent... even better is to make sure you boat is squared away before you go out on a rough one. No loose equipment, wear the life vests and get a fishfinder and GPS unit. They really help in the dark and in the fog and rain.

Dont' be afraid of the Potomac, but give it proper respect.