It’s a fishing day

Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac fishing conditions · Virginia

Now until Monday 4 amSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 72.

Log a trip here
Right now: 72 for smallmouth bass, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap 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.

  1. 724 pm
  2. 72
  3. 72
  4. 727 pm
  5. 72
  6. 72
  7. 7210 pm
  8. 72
  9. 72Sun
  10. 721 am
  11. 72
  12. 72
  13. 724 am
  14. 72
  15. 72
  16. 727 am
  17. 72
  18. 72
  19. 7210 am
  20. 72
  21. 72
  22. 721 pm
  23. 72
  24. 72
  25. 724 pm
  26. 72
  27. 72
  28. 727 pm
  29. 72
  30. 72
  31. 7210 pm
  32. 72
  33. 72Mon
  34. 721 am
  35. 72
  36. 72
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
15 mph

From the northwest

Flow
2,030 cfs

falling · -19% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:02 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

2% chance of rain

Air
55°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

72Worth the tripNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on smallmouth bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on largemouth bass

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: no minimum size, 5 a day (10 in possession), open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on channel catfish

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River2,030 cfs · falling · -19% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.95 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:02 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:43 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

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.

Licenses and rules: MD DNR · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

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.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake10 mi · MarylandBest tonight 6 pm to Monday 4 am
68Marginal
Burke Lake Park16 mi · VirginiaBest today 5 pm to Monday 4 am
68Marginal
Triadelphia Reservoir19 mi · MarylandBest today 5 pm to Monday 4 am
68Marginal
Occoquan Regional Park22 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 8 pm to Monday 4 am
100Go
Pohick Bay Regional Park23 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 8 pm to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
75Worth the trip
Monocacy River — Buckeystown24 mi · MarylandBest tonight 6 pm to Monday 4 am
86Go

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.