Spot Info: [Refresh Current Flow For All Spots] Last Refreshed: 09-10-2010 6:29:19 AM MDT

Name:		Fish Bowl		Current Flow:	2.34ft Recorded on 09-10-2010 6:45:00 AM
River:				Water Temp:	74.84 *F 23.8 *C
Country:				Turbidity:	?
Region:				PH:	?
State:				Min Flow:	2.7ft
City:				Ideal Flow:	3.1ft
Lat, Long:				Max Flow:	3.3ft
Gage Name:
USGS Gage#:
Gage Url:		http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?dd_cd=02_00065&format=img_default&site_no=01646500&set_logscale_y=0&begin_date=20080128
Predict Url:		http://newweb.erh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lwx&gage=brkm2&view=1,1,1,1,1,1
Notes & Directions:		FishBowl, also known as The Shoe: best at levels between 2.7 to 3.2 feet. The FishBowl is formed by the convergence of the Horseshoe slab with the Streamers slab. Its a short hike up over the O-Deck peninsula to get to the bowl. We put in at a rocky cove and ferry across the Horseshoe current to an eddy below the Streamers on river right. When this spot is above 3.3 feet it is difficult to get back in the staging eddy on river right. The strong current usually forces you to eddy out in the eddy below the Flake/Spout. An accomplished squirter can easily wing down at this interface in either direction, a regular mystery charc will be to the right spinning with the current and backcut mystery charc will be to the left against the current. At any level in order to have success, you need to sink early, before you get to the current coming from the Horseshoe. Theres a little curler that forms at the seam, you need to have your boat already under when you get to the curler. The FishBowl isnt torquey except at the higher levels above 3.2. Its actually very safe compared to Bermuda or Simple Pleasures, or most spots on the Potomac for that matter. I know of no one whos touched bottom or encountered submerged rocks. This is one of the Potomacs premier spots for roaming under water. A roaming mystery is where you travel some distance underwater. The key to a roaming mystery move at Fishbowl is to sink early and wing down to the subsurface Horseshoe current. This charc will push you towards the middle of the river, so when you resurface, focus immediately on getting back in the eddy. This is my favorite mystery spot on the Potomac, because it doesnt usually boss me around (except at higher levels) and the scenery is spectacular, perfect for a Mystery Circle. At lower levels, the wave/hole above the seam becomes better for surfing so you must defend the staging area or surface kayakers will cut right over the seam to get back in line. If it gets too busy, just head on down to Bermuda, because thats where the best downtime will be. Downtime is slang squirters use for time spent in the mystery move. Harris Haynie, Dave Collins, and I would often do these aerobic mystery sessions. This is how it works: After dipping in the first time, attain up to the top of the seam instead of paddling back into the eddy, and dip over and over until you need to rest. Wed often dip 8 to 10 times; occasionally dipping simultaneously one at the upstream part of the seam while the other is on the downstream portion of the seam. We first began going up to The FishBowl while looking for new places to play below 3.3 feet after the Fishladder waves in Portage were no longer good for surfing after the twin floods of 1995. We first started calling this spot The Shoe as an abbreviation on Horseshoe, the spectacular last drop of Great Falls on the Maryland side. The FishBowl seems more appropriate, cause the overlooks on both sides of the river can get quite crowded with tourist eager to check out the kayakers playing the river. Access to the Potomac spots in my guide to Mather Gorge is from Great Fall National Park in Virginia, Great Falls and C&O Canal National Historic Park in Maryland, or Anglers Inn in Maryland. Access Points: Maryland: Rt 189 to Macarther Blvb - Sandy Beach. Park at Great Falls National Park (fee area), reached via MacAuthur Blvd. in Montgomery County, MD. Carry 1/4 mile south along the C & O Canal towpath; take trail on the right that leads to Sandy Beach putin. - Anglers Inn. Reach via MacAuthur Blvd. Park in one of three gravel or dirt lots across from the Anglers Inn, a fine restaurant. Carry across the canal, then 100 feet south on the towpath, then right down to the shore. From the river, the beach is easily seen on river left. Virginia: - Fishermans Eddy. Park at Great Falls National Park Virginia (fee area). From lower lot, carry across picnic area upstream toward steep trail that leads to Fishermans Eddy. - Rocky Island. From Great Falls, Virginia, walk south on trail from picnic area to a small footbridge and walk left down the rocky gully access Rocky Island surfing waves. By, stro
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