From its headwaters in Pennsylvania, the Monocacy River flows 58 miles through Frederick County into the Potomac River. With river access via multiple bridge crossings and several riverside parks, much of the river can be wade-fished with about half of the river navigable by a canoe or kayak. The Trail site is focused on the upper river where fly fishers can cast for smallmouth bass, sunfish and channel catfish. Given much of the river’s shorelines[...]

Surrounded by a vast forested watershed and protected within the Morgan Run Natural Environmental Area, Morgan Run is a trout stream located within an hour’s drive of many Marylanders. Regularly stocked with brown and rainbow trout by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, this section of the stream is a Catch & Return Trout Fishing Area - limited to artificial lure fishing. This means there are more opportunities to catch good-sized trout. The miles of[...]

Flowing through Cecil County and into the Susquehanna River just downstream of the Conowingo Dam, Octoraro Creek is uniquely situated to provide fly fishers with both a range of fly fishing experiences—shoreline, wading and via boat—and opportunities to catch over a dozen different fish species. At this one Trail site, you can catch largemouth bass, striped bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, yellow perch, white perch, walleye, trout, American shad, hickory shad, northern snakehead[...]

Including the Chesapeake Bay’s largest underwater grass bed, extending over thousands of acres, the shallow waters of the Susquehanna Flats is an important habitat for numerous fish species and, therefore, a literal playground for fly fishers in Harford County. Accessing the Susquehanna Flats starts with launching at Millard Tydings Memorial Park in Havre de Grace. Next, you are faced with the decision of which fish species to target out on the water. Choices include largemouth[...]

Among the many Eastern Shore ponds, Smithville Lake stands out as one of the more productive waters, offering fly fishers with an assortment of fish species to target. Its populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and chain pickerel provide for year round fishing opportunities. During the winter months, fly fishers can cast for those toothy top predator chain pickerel even when the waters are too cold for other fish species. With the onset of spring[...]

Kent County offers some of the best access to great places to fly fish along the upper Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay and up into the Chester River. Fly fishers launching from Rock Hall will find themselves immediately in productive Chesapeake Bay waters with options to head up the Eastern Shore towards Tolchester Beach and fish the multitude of tidal creeks further up Bay. From the boat launch at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge[...]

Located within commuting distance of much of Maryland, you will find a beautiful trout stream and a great place to experience fly fishing on Gunpowder Falls. Naturally breeding brown trout populations, combined with continual cold water reservoir releases, yields year round fly fishing opportunities. This unique tailwater, located in Baltimore County, provides miles of trout fishing including the 7.2 miles of catch and release fishing only area which is the focus of this Trail site[...]

Conveniently located just off Route 2 in Calvert County, this small farm pond was donated by Harry and Grace Hutchins for public fishing access. With an open shoreline surrounding the pond, you can easily fly fish all areas of the pond. During the spring, the pond is stocked with rainbow trout by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, providing for a unique fishing experience. In addition, during the spring, summer and fall, fly fishers can[...]

The ride over to Smith Island from Crisfield alone is worth traveling to this Trail site, whether by ferry or mailboat or your own boat. You can even make arrangements for the transport of your own kayak or rent one on the Island. Be sure to make time to explore the Island and its towns, but don’t forget you also made the trip to hook into the striped bass, speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and bluefish[...]