Fishing the DMV

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we sit down with professional bass angler Keith Poche to break down his Potomac River Toyota Series win and the shallow-water strategy that helped him beat the field.

Keith explains how he used his custom Gator Trax aluminum boat to access hard-to-reach tidal creeks, beaver dams, grass flats, pad fields, and backwater areas most bass boats cannot reach. We talk through his tournament decisions, including his day-one Neabsco Creek pattern, surprise big bites near a sewer outflow, his day-two run toward Washington, D.C., and the final-day creek that helped...

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV, we are joined by Taylor from Always Bent Fishing for a full Ocean City, Maryland summer fishing report!

The spring run in Ocean City was one of the best in recent memory, with big striped bass showing up heavy in the surf, around the Route 50 Bridge, in the bay, and along the beach for anglers soaking bait. Now that water temperatures are climbing, the bite has officially shifted into summer mode, and Taylor breaks down everything anglers need to know before heading to the coast.

We talk...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we are joined by Joshua Powell Morris of Richmond Crappie Guide Service and the Richmond Crappie Club for a deep dive into summertime crappie fishing in Virginia. Josh breaks down how crappie behavior changes after the spawn, why summer fish become more predictable around brush piles, bridge pilings, docks, current breaks, and shade lines, and how anglers can build a productive rotation of spots when the bite gets tough.

We also get into Josh’s tournament season, including his success on the Bobcats trail, tr...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, I sit down with Kevin Flint of Flint Financial Planning for one of the most important conversations we’ve had about the future of fishing, tournament angling, and the real cost of chasing this sport.

Kevin grew up fishing Smith Mountain Lake with his dad out of an old Ranger bass boat, and today he brings a unique perspective as both a lifelong angler and a Certified Financial Planner. We talk about how Smith Mountain Lake has changed over the years, the impact of blueback herring on the fishery, the re...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we head back to Pennsylvania to break down the Juniata River smallmouth bass bite with Jordan Lovejoy, winner of the Kayak Adventure Series Juniata River event with an impressive 94.50 inches. Jordan shares how he unlocked a powerful post-spawn smallmouth bass pattern, why the Juniata River is one of the most underrated smallmouth rivers in the country, and how kayak anglers can find overlooked fish in current, shoals, isolated rock, and mid-river structure.

We dive deep into <...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we sit down with Capt. Sam Scott of Blue Ridge Muskies to discuss a serious and growing concern on the Jackson River and Upper James River: pollution concerns connected to the Smurfit Westrock paper mill in Covington, Virginia.

Sam breaks down what he has seen firsthand on his home waters, including dramatic water discoloration, sludge-like buildup on the river bottom, major dark-water events, poor fishing conditions after discharge events, and concerns over dissolved oxygen, water temperature, aquatic vegetation, spawning success, and the long-term health of the James River muskie and...

In this episode of Fishing the DMV, we head back to the legendary Potomac River with one of the most knowledgeable anglers to ever fish it Captain Steve Chaconas.

Captain Steve breaks down the current state of the Potomac River bass fishery, including how the river is really fishing, why submerged aquatic vegetation like milfoil and SAV is so important, and how the loss of grass has changed the way anglers need to approach the river. We also discuss fishing pressure, tournament pressure, changing fish behavior, and why the...

On this crazy episode of Fishing the DMV, we are breaking down the biggest stories in bass fishing from this past weekend and opening up the phone lines so you can be part of the conversation! We’ll cover the wildest tournament headlines, including Banks Shaw’s unreal comeback win on Grand Lake, the latest movement in the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year race, Michael Harlin’s huge Bassmaster Open win on the Upper Mississippi River, Drake Hemby’s Toyota Series victory on Lake Dardanelle, and the new bait trends starting to take over the bass...

In this episode of Fishing the DMV, we head back to Buggs Island Reservoir, also known as Kerr Lake, for a full summer fishing report with Captain Zach from Threadfin Guide Services. If you are looking for the latest information on Buggs Island fishing, Kerr Lake fishing, Kerr Lake striper fishing, Buggs Island striped bass, Kerr Lake bass fishing, and summer patterns across the Virginia and North Carolina border, this episode is packed with valuable fishing insight.
Captain Zach breaks down what is happening right now on Kerr Lake as the lake moves into its summer fishing patterns...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we sit down with Scott Barrett, owner of Max4 Fishing and the legendary bait designer behind the Nikko Hellgrammite, one of the most influential smallmouth fishing baits ever created.

If you love smallmouth fishing, river smallmouth fishing, creek fishing, creek fishing adventures, finesse bass fishing, realistic soft plastic baits, Nikko baits, Max4 Fishing, and river bass fishing, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

Scott shares the incredible story of how he spent 20 years in...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we head back to one of the most legendary smallmouth bass fisheries in the country: the New River. I’m joined by longtime guide Ethan Stone of New River Outdoor Company for a full summer smallmouth bass fishing breakdown.

Ethan explains how the New River has been fishing after an unusually low-water spring, how post-spawn smallmouth are setting up, and why June can be one of the best topwater months of the entire year. We dive into current river conditions, water levels, low and clear water adjustments, and how to ta...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we sit down with Hunter Brooks and Todd Sadler from Green Top to break down the new Virginia gun laws, the upcoming Virginia assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, firearm transfer deadlines, and the civil liability concerns facing gun shops, firearm manufacturers, and outdoor retailers.

This conversation goes far beyond politics. It affects Virginia hunting, fishing, conservation, gun ownership, outdoor recreation, local tackle shops, archery, firearm sales, and the future of the outdoor community across the Mid-Atlantic.

If you are a hunter, angler, firearm owner, sportsman, conservation supporter...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we sit down with the legend himself Marty Lawson of Monster Bass and Ralph Boyd of Army Outdoors for a fun, high-energy, and information-packed conversation about Virginia bass fishing, Potomac River bass fishing, electric-only bass tournaments, tournament fishing, and the incredible Mid-Atlantic fishing community.

Marty Lawson catches us up on everything he has been doing with Monster Bass, Grande Bass, local fishing flea markets, tackle testing, and why so many anglers want him to bring back his YouTube channel, Ripping Lips with Marty Lawson. We talk about his tackle addiction...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we sit down with CJ Craft to break down the current state of Potomac River bass fishing, tidal bass fishing, and what it takes to catch quality tournament fish on one of the most pressured bass fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic. CJ recently finished tied for 2nd place in the Shenandoah Division BFL on the Potomac River with 15 pounds, 13 ounces, and he shares exactly how he approached a tough tidal river tournament where the bite window opened early and every key decision mattered.
We talk in-depth about the challenges facing the Potomac...

Upper Chesapeake Bay Bass Fishing is ON FIRE! Tidal Bass Secrets with Duke Nave

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we head back to the Upper Chesapeake Bay with local tournament stick Duke Nave Fishing for a full breakdown of one of the hottest tidal bass fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic. If you’re interested in Chesapeake Bay bass fishing, Upper Bay tournament fishing, Susquehanna Flats bass fishing, the Northeast River, the Sassafras River, the Potomac River, or...

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV, we head back to one of Virginia’s most popular and productive fisheries — Lake Anna, Virginia  for a full summer bass fishing report with Matt McCluskey and Tyler Heuple of High Pole Guide Services

As the summer heat starts to set in, Lake Anna bass fishing begins to change fast. In this episode, Matt and Tyler break down the current Lake Anna fishing conditions, water temperatures, seasonal bass behavior, and the best areas to target when chasing largemouth bass during the early summer transition. Whether you are fishing the main...

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV, I sit down with local angler Matt Fauver to discuss his journey into smallmouth bass fishing on the Upper Potomac River and his growing passion for tournament kayak fishing.

First things first—I owe everyone an apology for this episode being released later than planned. After spending way too much time troubleshooting camera lag issues, I finally discovered the culprit: a dying camera battery! Thankfully, the technical problems are behind us because this conversation was absolutely worth the wait.

Ma...

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV, we head down to the Pasquotank River, part of the legendary Albemarle Sound and Chowan River Basin, to break down one of the hottest bass fishing tournaments in the region with Elite 70 Alpha “Solo” Series winner Ryan Lachniet.

Ryan put together an incredible tournament performance, bringing a massive 28.78-pound bag of bass to the scales to secure the win. In this episode, we talk about how he was able to figure out the Pasquotank River bass, what made...

The Sizzling Summer Showdown Fishing Tournament is officially here, and it is time to bring the heat!

In this episode of Fishing the DMV, we break down everything anglers need to know about the Sizzling Summer Showdown, including tournament dates, entry details, eligible species, divisions, payout structure, big fish awards, side pot prizes, submission rules, and how to get signed up through Patreon and TourneyX.
The tournament begins Saturday, June 13th at 6:00 AM and runs through Sunday, August 2nd at 11:59 PM. All eligible fish must be caught and submitted within that tournament window. 
The e...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we’re heading down to the coast for an early summer Virginia Beach fishing report with local angler Brayden Cope.

If you’re planning a fishing trip, beach vacation, kayak trip, or just want to better understand the lower Chesapeake Bay fishery, this episode is packed with timely insight, local knowledge, and real-world tactics for fishing the Virginia Beach area right now.

Brayden breaks down what anglers can expect in early June, including speckled trout patterns, aggressive puppy drum and redfish behavior, shal...

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV, I am joined by Ben Ricks, Assistant Chief of Fisheries Management and Coastal Region Supervisor with the Inland Fisheries Division of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Ben is also one of the hosts of Better Fishing with 2 Bald Biologists, and he brings a fisheries biologist’s perspective to one of the most talked-about bass fishing destinations in the country.

We start the episode with a broad overview of North Carolina bass fishing, including the different types of opportunities anglers can find across the state — from inland lakes and rive...

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, we break down the Susquehanna Fishing Tackle Summer Slam, one of the biggest team bass fishing tournaments on the Upper Chesapeake Bay.

I am joined by Bass & Beer Radio to talk about their impressive 2nd place finish at the SFT Summer Slam, held May 17th out of Anchor Marina on the North East River in Maryland.

We dive into their full tournament strategy, including how they approached Upper Chesapeake Bay bass fishing, the North East River, tidal movement, grass fishing, bait selection, practice, key adjustments, fishing...

In this episode of Fishing the DMV, we are joined by Chad Boyce from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating and historic bass fishery Back Bay in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

With the 2026 Maxam Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound coming up June 11–14 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, this is the perfect time to look at nearby coastal bass fisheries and understand how shallow tidal rivers, coastal bays, grass flats, marsh systems, and brackish-water largemouth bass habitats ca...

May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and on this important episode of Fishing the DMV, I am joined by Mercy Viator, Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner, to talk about two of the most dangerous threats facing anglers, hunters, hikers, kayakers, campers, and outdoor people everywhere: skin cancer and ticks/Lyme disease.

When most people think about outdoor danger, they usually think about bad weather, rough water, accidents, hooks, wildlife, or getting lost. But the truth is, two of the biggest long-term health risks for people who spend a lot of time outside are ...