Captain Steve Chaconas got hooked on fishing as a 3-year-old feeding bread to the fish while his father looked on. “The [Potomac] river back then was a nasty mess,” Chaconas recalls, but within a few years of the passage of the Clean Water Act of 1972, underwater grasses began to reappear, helping create a cleaner habitat for largemouth bass.
In the 1980s bass fishing gained popularity as a sport and Chaconas, by then an accomplished fisherman, began offering guide services. When he retired from teaching and hosting his own radio show 25 years ago, he launched National Bass Guide Service, offering small-group fishing excursions and expert instruction. Practicing catch and release, he caters to all ages and ability levels.
“The biggest battle is finding the fish,” says Chaconas. If you can find where they feed, you can find the fish. “The fat boys don’t sit far from the buffet,” he says with a laugh.
Chaconas launches from various points in Virginia, taking clients to any number of spots along 63-miles of river. Along the way he and his clients pass the Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol, Mount Vernon, and other historic landmarks.
In the almost 50 years since the passage of the Clean Water Act, the Potomac River has enjoyed a period of dramatic recovery and today is recognized as one of the country’s best bass fisheries. “It’s amazing what people can do,” says Chaconas, “when they decide to conserve our resources.”
National Bass Guide Service operates year-round, with peak season running from mid-March to mid-October. For more information, please visit NationalBass.com or call 703.380.7119.