Depends if you are looking for quality or quantity. Quantity I use a 4 1/2-5' ultralite loaded with some stren 4lb and toss a 2" grub (no spinner) and you'll hammer all kinds of fish. Fishing the 2" will catch you larger fish, but it will also put the smaller ones on the bait too increasing your #'s. I've had luck rebel killer crawdads, jigs and pigs, 3-4" grubs. As for live bait.....Minnows would tear them up, helgramites (if you can find them) for the smallies......Mealworms would probably catch you more bream than you could imagine....and Nightcrawlers, well those will catch anything in the river....including the possibility of some good fun with some river cats. If you're gonna use live bait I would recommend a good med action rod instead of an ultralite or lite action....Just keep in mind you are only a mile or so above great falls at riverbend...so there's a good current there. live bait can be a bit of a pain to fish. Rocky bottom = snags and Current = lots of relocating bait if using a float. We'll have to see what the rain does this weekend.....but if you want to hit the potomac somewhere, I can get out mon or tue for a few hours..