HANCOCK/BERKELEY SPRINGS TO McCOYS FERRY
(Distance: 14 Miles) At Hancock, a concrete ramp exists off Canal Street some 300 yards below the state Route (SR) 522 bridge. A paved parking lot is available. At McCoys Ferry, a concrete ramp exists off McCoys Ferry Road via SR 56. Paddlers can also take out at a ramp at Cherry Hill on county Route 10 in Morgan County, 10 miles below Hancock. Parking is available in a paved lot. An alternative take-out exists at Fort Frederick State Park 12 miles below Hancock. The ramp is concrete and can be reached via SR 56 and Fort Frederick Road. Parking is available.

John Mullican recommends that for fishermen, the Hancock float is “a long way to paddle, so skip the flat, shallow sections and concentrate on the best habitat.” Riverside camping is available at Fort Frederick State Park and McCoys Ferry, as well as the hiker/biker campsites on the C&O Canal along river left.

The Hancock ramp is often a very busy place, so those anglers wanting to travel to McCoys Ferry may find it prudent at the start of the trip to put some distance between them and the access point. The first mile features the odd riffle, water willow beds, and the entrance of Tonoloway Creek. Note the arch over the tributary.

Next comes a large island; the left side of this island offers the best passageway and a riffle to Class I. The submerged rocky stretch above the island offers potential, especially in the early spring. For the next three to four miles, the Potomac flows fairly straight. From late spring through fall, expect to find plenty of star grass in this area.

It was through this section last June that I caught a 12 1/2-inch smallmouth that savaged a Case Salty Sinkin Shad. At first glance, such a small keeper-sized smallie might not be noteworthy. But the fish was bigger than any that Wimer and I caught in 2006, when we journeyed from above the confluence of the North and South Branches to Hancock/ Berkeley Springs. In short, that smallmouth gave us hope that the river was on the upswing.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with the habitat on this 14-mile float. Matt Knott, who operates River Riders in Harpers Ferry, said that the Hancock/Berkeley Springs junket has much to offer.

“There are a lot of riffles and no major rapids,” Knott said. “The banks are mostly wooded with rolling hills in the background. In 2007, the reports that we got from the upper river were that the smallmouth bass fishing was much improved.”

At mile six, you’ll come to a small island on your left and a much larger one to your right; go between them for the best and safest passageway. Below the islands, some riffles will send you on your way. And a local campground lies along the West Virginia shoreline. You’ll also see where Sleepy Creek enters on that side, which is, of course, river right.

At mile seven, you will encounter another island, which is nearly a mile long. Take the left passageway for the best fishing. This section features quite a bit of deep water and dropoffs -- a good thing to know if you aim to take this float during the spring when deep-diving crankbaits and Carolina rigs work so well for habitat such as this.

Around the mile eight mark, a much smaller island will come into view. A power line also crosses here and Licking Creek soon enters on river left near more islands. For the next two miles, the Potomac flows fairly slowly; the major feature is the Cherry Hill ramp on river right, which is also where the namesake creek enters. A railroad trestle also helps mark this area.

The next four miles until the McCoys Ferry take-out offers numerous places to fish. A number of areas feature water that is 3 to 6 feet deep with riffles and submerged rocks. It was through one such area that I experienced my biggest thrill of the 2007 fishing season. I had been fan- casting a 4-inch Cordell Red Fin through this type of rocky habitat when a 15-inch smallmouth attacked the lure.

Fortunately, and yes the word is fortunately, I lost the smallie after about 10 seconds and then proceeded to miss another 15-incher that likewise hit the hard-plastic jerkbait on the same cast. But while I was moaning about my incompetence -- and the Red Fin was slowly rising to the surface -- yet another bronzeback blasted the bait.

I quickly felt that this brown bass was far bigger than the other two, as it commenced a searing run and I was forced to begin back reeling as Doak Harbison expertly kept our canoe positioned parallel to where the fish was cavorting. When the bass first jumped, it was confirmed that I was dueling with a real lunker -- something that was hammered home each of the next three times that the fish surfaced.