Imagine: a long and winding tidal creek, filled with long “S” curves, often surrounded on both sides by wetlands along mostly undeveloped shorelines in the upper reaches; and along the south shore, a widely recognized highly productive tidal largemouth fishery all fed by clean waters from a largely undisturbed watershed.  

Welcome to Mattawoman Creek in Charles County. Your fly fishing adventure will start at Mattingly Park where after launching your kayak, canoe, standup paddle board, jon boat or bass boat, your first decision will be—upstream or downstream? 

Heading up the creek, you have about two miles of tidal waters to explore. Heading down the creek, the width of the tidal waters will grow as you continue to get closer to the Potomac River giving you even more waters to choose from. And speaking of choices, here's what you can catch: bluegill, crappie, blue catfish, white catfish, bullhead, channel catfish, largemouth bass, longnose gar, river herring, white perch, yellow perch, carp and northern snakehead. Wow!

Fees

There is a fee to launch your watercraft at Mattingly Park.

Site Location

Located just south of Indian Head, Maryland, Mattawoman Creek extends several miles to the southwest before connecting with the tidal Potomac River.

Address

Mattingly Park 108 Mattingly Avenue, Indian Head, MD 20640

How to Get There

From Interstate 495, take the exit for MD-210/Indian Head Highway south. Once you have entered the city of Indian Head, take a left onto Mattingly Avenue and follow it all the way to Mattingly Park.

Parking & Launching

Parking is located adjacent to the creek on a paved lot. You can launch your boat using the concrete boat launch directly adjacent to the parking lot at Mattingly Park.

Boat Rentals

Kayaks are available for rent from the Atlantic Kayak located adjacent to the boat launch ramps at 108A Mattingly Ave, Indian Head, MD 20640.

Where to Fish

You can fly fish from the boardwalk and small fishing piers. For the best fly fishing, you will need a boat, canoe or kayak as there is very limited shoreline fishing. Cast towards the shorelines and on the outer edges of the lily pads and other in-water structures.

What to Catch 

Bluegill, crappie, blue catfish, white catfish, bullhead, channel catfish, largemouth bass, longnose gar, river herring, white perch, yellow perch, carp and northern snakehead

What to Fish & How 

Recommend bringing 6-8 weight fly rods with floating, intermediate and sink tip fly lines. For largemouth bass, recommend medium-sized poppers and floating frog patterns, Clouser minnows, and other minnow imitations. For catfish, large Clouser minnows, and other minnow imitations.

Fly Fishing Organizations

Connect with local fly fishing organizations to learn about mentoring opportunities and to connect with others interested in fly fishing.