Seasoned anglers in the Washington DC area offer a number of tips for good fishing. The Washington Channel is good almost year-round, but spring is best. Use lures or brown rubber worms, cut meat, liver, earthworms, crawfish, or live minnows. Bass is a popular catch at this spot. To catch carp, use dough balls made from bread or flour paste.
Some anglers add cornmeal and fruit jam to the dough balls.
Earthworms and blood worms also work well. Regulations for fishing along the canal conform to the license requirements of the laws of Maryland. Any person 16 years of age or older must have a valid license to fish at state's no-tidal waters or rewatered sections of the canal. The U.S. Weather Bureau provides a taped message on river conditions in the lower Potomac Valley. For a free list, call 202472-3083.