This month we visit with Captain Tim Blanchard of Fish The Potomac to talk about fishing in the Potomac River.
Q: Sometimes those blue catfish get finicky. What are some tips for pulling a rabbit out of the hat when they don’t seem to want to commit?
A: If they’re nibbling, they’re coming back for seconds. You just have to out-patient a fish with no eyelids. Circle hooks are your best friend here—let ‘em hook themselves. Settle in, channel your inner Buddha, snack, stretch, maybe even text your ex, but don’t keep reeling in to check the bait. They’ll come.
Q: What’s your favorite bait for blue cats, and why?
A: Eel. It’s like the beef jerky of the river—tough, durable, and fish love it. You can catch two, three, sometimes four catfish on one chunk. Gizzard shad, though, let me tell you it’s like catfish crack. They go absolutely nuts for it. I half expect one to jump onboard the boat and try to order it medium rare.
Q: Tell us how you normally rig up.
A: We rock either the classic Carolina rig or what we call the “FishThePotomac” rig. That’s a three-way swivel with a pyramid sinker hanging right off it, leading to a 12” mono leader and a circle hook somewhere in the 10/0 to 12/0 range. The main line is 65-pound braid—strong enough to tow a small car or, more importantly, a 30-pound catfish who thinks he owns the river.
Q: Okay—we have some cats in the cooler and now we want to try for striped bass.
A: The stripers are like that cool cousin who only visits for the holidays, and when they show up it’s party time. We jig with everything from paddletails to metal jigs depending on the mood of the fish and the alignment of the moon. It’s fast-paced, high-energy stuff, a total upgrade from catfishing’s sit-and-wait lifestyle.
Q: Now let’s try to catch a largemouth bass. What’s your favorite way to target them, and why?
A: Confession time: I’ve actually never landed a largemouth bass! I’ve given it a go with crankbaits and paddletails, but the bass and I just aren’t on speaking terms yet. Someday I’ll win their affection… or at least a courtesy bite.
Q: You fish from a boat that many would say is pretty large for the river. Tell us why you like the Grady White 330 Express.
A: I love Grady Whites the way a dog loves bacon. The 330 Express is my dream boat: stable, comfy, and built like a tank. It’s perfect for charters with tons of room, a cozy cabin with heat, a freshwater sink to wash the fish slime off your hands, and a full head so no one has to practice their wilderness skills mid-charter.
Q: We love that you have a Kids Fishing Summer Camp; tell us a bit about it.
A: The Kids Fishing Club Summer Camp grew out of our regular kids’ trips. I saw how much fun they were having, and a friend convinced me to give it a try. I said, “Sure, if you run it.” She called my bluff. Now we’ve got five week-long sessions, already filling up fast—like, Black Friday TV-sale fast. Each week, 12 campers split into two groups. Half go fishing on the boat in the morning while the other half do fun shore-based water activities. In the afternoon they switch. Interested families can sign up at KidsFishingClub.com.
Q: Anything else you want to shout out to the wider fishing world?
A: Yeah, here’s the truth: I only picked up fishing a few years ago. Before that I was just your average boat-loving DC guy with a dream. Now? I’m out here learning something new almost every single day about the fish, the river, the gear, and myself. And honestly, that’s been one of the best parts of the whole journey. The DC Potomac is coming back to life and I’m fortunate enough to get to be part of that. And hey—if you want to hop aboard this Grady White dream machine Geronimo for some catfish chaos, striped bass jigging, sightseeing, or to get your kid into fishing, come find us at FishThePotomac.com. We’re serving up big fish, big laughs, and zero judgment for asking what a leader is. Fish on, friends!
Thanks a ton, Captain Tim.