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South Branch Potomac River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

The Trough and the Smoke Hole: the South Branch runs smallmouth through West Virginia’s best river canyons.

4/5
Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.
Flow
233 cfs
Air / High
86 / 88 F
Wind
W 7 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 01608500, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

4/5Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

South Branch Potomac River offers the kind of conditions this water was made for. The river is running 233 cfs, dropping and clearing. Today brings cloud cover, wind W around 7 mph, rising pressure near 1014 hPa and a high of 88. Water sits around 73 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Smallmouth bassExcellent

Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

WalleyeExcellent

Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

MuskellungeExcellent

Bucktails and rubber over cabbage and rock bars; moon majors matter here more than anywhere.

Catfish (blue, channel)Excellent

Drift cut bait across flats near the river channel, or anchor on ledges at dusk.

Tomorrow: Cooler at 78 F with a rain chance. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from South Branch Potomac near Springfield.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 01608500.

3537341,115233 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp86 F
High / Low88 / 69 F
WindW 7-11 mph
Pressure1013.5 hPa, rising
Sky / Rain68% cloud, 66%
Sunrise / Sunset06:46 / 19:41
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~73 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Rain, 88/69 F, wind 7 mph, rain 66%

Fair or better. Cloud and a rain chance can stretch the morning bite well past breakfast: keep moving baits tied on.

Species guide

The species that matter on South Branch Potomac River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Smallmouth bass illustration

Smallmouth bass

Best: May-Oct

Current and rock. Finds gravel flats, boulders and drop-offs, and fights far above its weight. Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

Walleye illustration

Walleye

Best: May-Jun, Oct

The glass-eyed prize of northern lakes. Low light, wind-blown structure and live bait. Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

Muskellunge illustration

Muskellunge

Best: Sep-Nov

The fish of ten thousand casts. Weed edges, rock bars and big-water structure. Bucktails and rubber over cabbage and rock bars; moon majors matter here more than anywhere.

Catfish (blue, channel) illustration

Catfish (blue, channel)

Good year-round

The most reliable bite on most southern waters. Blues run big; channels fill the cooler. Drift cut bait across flats near the river channel, or anchor on ledges at dusk.

When to come: the South Branch Potomac River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smallmouth bass
Walleye
Muskellunge
Catfish (blue, channel)
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 73 F (estimated, not a reading).

4050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~73 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks South Branch Potomac River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 91 F, wind to 10 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

5/5 Excellent. Go now. Everything lines up: pressure, wind and light are in your favor. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 92 F, wind to 13 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 95 F, wind to 11 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
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Before you go

License

West Virginia requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

West Virginia license plus trout stamp for stocked trout. Smallmouth and muskie limits per current WVDNR regulations.

Access

Route 220 and county road access; float launches at Petersburg and Harmison for the Trough canyon.

About this water

A 139-mile river through eastern West Virginia joining the North Branch to form the Potomac, Hardy and Hampshire counties.

Fishing South Branch Potomac River: the full guide

A river of canyons

The South Branch of the Potomac flows about 139 miles through eastern West Virginia to join the North Branch and form the Potomac. It cuts three notable canyons along the way: the Smoke Hole, the Trough and the Blue Hole, each holding excellent smallmouth water in genuinely dramatic settings. Rock bass, catfish, muskellunge and stocked trout fill out the fishery.

Smallmouth in the canyons

The Trough, a five-mile canyon reachable only by boat or the rail line, is the classic float: smallmouth on the ledges, boulder gardens and deep pools, with tubes, crankbaits and topwater all producing. The Smoke Hole canyon upstream holds trout in the colder water as well as smallmouth, and both reaches see modest pressure.

Trout and muskie

West Virginia stocks trout in the upper river and Smoke Hole reaches, providing a spring and fall fishery in cold canyon water. Muskellunge hold the deeper pools of the lower river, targeted with large baits by specialists. The variety within one river makes it a genuinely versatile destination.

Hardy County logistics

Access is via Route 220 and county roads, with float trips through the Trough launched at Petersburg or the Harmison access. Moorefield, Petersburg and Romney are the towns along the river. The Potomac Eagle scenic railroad runs through the Trough, and eagles are commonly seen from the water.

Common questions

What is the Trough?

A five-mile canyon reachable only by boat or rail: the river’s classic float and its best smallmouth water.

Are there trout?

Yes: stocked in the upper river and Smoke Hole canyon, where colder water supports them in spring and fall.

Will I see eagles?

Commonly: the Trough is known for them, and a scenic railroad runs through the canyon specifically to view them.

Is fishing good at South Branch Potomac River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Nearby waters

Deep Creek Lake33 miShenandoah River45 miYoughiogheny River52 miPotomac River62 miCheat Lake65 miRaystown Lake70 mi
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