2026 regulation year
C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections 2026 — District of Columbia Fishing Regulations
District of Columbia statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of District of Columbia's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Watch C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections (DC) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.
State-level special regulation
Federal NPS historic canal (Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, 184.5 miles Georgetown DC to Cumberland MD); DC sections in Georgetown + Glover-Archbold Park host smallmouth + largemouth + sunfish + carp + bowfin; DC Fishing Licence REQUIRED ages 16-64; NPS regulations also apply
Per-species rules on C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections
12 in min, 5 / day combined; smaller-scale canal-pond bass fishery
12 in min, 5 / day combined; smaller-scale canal-pond smallmouth + largemouth
Official source
District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division publishes the authoritative 2026 District of Columbia fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official District of Columbia fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment's emergency-order feed — check it before any District of Columbia trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in District of Columbia
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections?
- C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override District of Columbia's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass and Smallmouth bass. One of them reads: "Federal NPS historic canal (Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, 184.5 miles Georgetown DC to Cumberland MD); DC sections in Georgetown + Glover-Archbold Park host smallmouth + largemouth + sunfish + carp + bowfin; DC Fishing Licence REQUIRED ages 16-64; NPS regulations also apply." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections?
- Yes. C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections is in District of Columbia, so a valid District of Columbia fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for C&O Canal (DC sections); they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide District of Columbia rules.
- Do C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections' special rules replace District of Columbia's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. District of Columbia's statewide 2026 regulations apply on C&O Canal (DC sections) by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on C&O Canal (DC sections)?
- Largemouth bass and Smallmouth bass have a water-body-specific rule on C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections, each linking to its full District of Columbia regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide District of Columbia limits.