Fishing Licenses in the Potomac

The Potomac's a pretty confusing place to get legal on: I usually end
up getting a bunch of licenses, for the shotgun approach ($$), but I'd
like to know the bare minimum I need.

I live in VA, and I fish in:
*VA freshwater ponds/lakes
*Upper/lower Rappahannock
*Upper Potomac
*Tidal Potomac (above 301), including MD tributaries, VA tributaries,
and above the Wilson bridge.

The DNR sites try to explain it, but aren't explicit enough for me to
be sure.

Thanks,
Jamie

Jamie Jackson wrote:
The Potomac's a pretty confusing place to get legal on: I usually end
up getting a bunch of licenses, for the shotgun approach ($$), but I'd
like to know the bare minimum I need.

I live in VA, and I fish in:
*VA freshwater ponds/lakes
*Upper/lower Rappahannock
*Upper Potomac
*Tidal Potomac (above 301), including MD tributaries, VA tributaries,
and above the Wilson bridge.

The DNR sites try to explain it, but aren't explicit enough for me to
be sure.

Thanks,
Jamie

I can't speak about the Rap, but for the Potomac you can get by with a
VA freshwater license; VA and MD have reciprocal agreements on the
Potomac and main tributaries. The exception is above WW bridge to a
point about 1 mile upstream from Chain Bridge, you will need a DC
license. They don't recognize MD or VA licenses. In addition, you MUST
have a safe boater cert on you any time you're in DC waters. They are
pretty rigorous when it comes to checking (and ticketing). Don't forget
the no wake zones, either.

Tight lines,

Big Poppa