The top water blowups with largemouth are fantastic, but once it gets colder and they move deeper, it's not as much fun on a flyrod (one opinion). Last largemouth was on a rabbit tail about 3 feet down in the afternoon...almost a month ago.
My two cents is that scent matters more the slower you fish. So if you're fishing the ned, child or whatever soft plastic, spray it. I don't think scent matters at all on top or fast moving presentations, and matters a lot for anything sitting on the bottom that fish will inspect before eating.
Good time of year for trout and stripers...
--On Monday, November 9, 2026 at 7:03:12 PM UTC-5 Rick Batka wrote:
I'll bite. Not a fly fisherman, but I love the discussions on this board!
Anyone have tips for targeting bass in the Potomac around Alexandria? I fish mostly at Jones Point, Four Mile run, and Dangerfield Island.
I've caught the rare largemouth on soft plastic worms and curly tail grubs in the past, but since around October... skunked 5x in a row.
I'm bored of catching catfish on hot dogs ;)
I've thrown everything in the tackle box targeting bass - spinnerbait, paddle tails, wacky worm, curly tailed grub, ned rig, mepps spinners, jerkbaits...
I fish mostly up and down the seawall and around docks, usually in the evening / night. I'm focusing these days on getting my presentation as subtle as possible: 8lb floor leader with weightless soft plastic or 1/16 jig head with a curly tail grub are the things that have worked in the past for me. I recently got my hopes up thinking the ned rig was the answer, went and bought some ned rig worms and watched a bunch of videos, but so far I've skunked with it trip after trip. I'm casting it out, letting it sit on the bottom, and then twitching / jumping it along the bottom back to me.
Any tips? Should I keep going lighter / smaller? Should I tie a fly on my spinning reel setup?! I'll try anything.
The sunsets and city skyline views have made every trip worth it, so I'm not upset.
Thanks for all the good advice on here!
- Rick B.
On Monday, November 9, 2026 at 8:44:32 AM UTC-5 Misha Gill wrote:
New to fly fishing? New to TPFR? Or have a question you've been slightly too embarrassed to ask?
This thread is for you.
Ask anything: choosing a first rod, leaders and tippet, knots, flies, casting, reading water, where to fish, what gear you actually need, fish handling, etiquette, or why the hell your leader keeps turning into a bird's nest.
There are no dumb questions here.
If you're one of our more experienced anglers, check in occasionally and help somebody out. We all started somewhere, and one of the best things TPFR can offer is access to anglers who have already made the mistakes you're about to make.
And you don't have to be a newbie to ask a newbie question. Sometimes the supposedly obvious stuff is exactly what we never learned properly.
Drop your questions below. 👇 Or show up to Beer Tie tonight and ask anyone there. 7 pm @ Courthaus Social.
Fish where you are, not where you ain't.
http://www.tpfr.org
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