What is Level 82? Founded by Torrey and Chanel Smith, LEVEL 82 strives to create a gathering space for those who live, work and play in Baltimore City while developing strategically-curated programming to empower the community. Aligned with the mission to leverage the power of collaboration to enable families to reach their full potential, Torrey and Chanel bring their personal experiences, commitment, resources and passion to the community. Endless Opportunities Maryland’s waters are vast and[...]

Blue Catfish Blue catfish are the largest of the North American catfish and can easily exceed 100 pounds. They are generally slate blue on the back to silvery/white on the underside and have a deeply forked tail. The native range of blue catfish extends from Minnesota and Ohio southward into Mexico. They prefer the large river basins of the Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri River drainages. However, due to extensive introductions, their current range incorporates several[...]

About White Perch Ask anyone in Maryland to tell you the first fish they caught, and the most likely answer will be a white perch. (Morone americana). Close cousins to striped bass, they’ll take an artificial lure quicker than a whipstitch on a shad dart. They’re prolific in most tidal streams, and they are great fun to catch. Not just for kids either - there are plenty of full-grown adults, including this old stump jumper[...]

FishTalk Magazine Feature As part of this road series, Lenny Rudow and FishTalk covered the trip with a featured article. Read a snippet of it below with a link to the full feature. For those traveling to Snakehead country, Cambridge, MD is ground zero. From here your located close to Blackwater River system and the Transquaking, the Chickamacomico, and all the associated tributary area waterways - all of which are jam-packed with snakehead. You can[...]

From the brackish waters (a mix of salt and freshwater) of the Chesapeake Bay’s tributary systems, to freshwater systems that riddle the state, these popular fish can be found all across Maryland. With easy access to fishing spots by land and boat access points, Maryland makes it easy for the serious angler and the first-timer to find a largemouth bass worth talking about. Fishing for Largemouth Bass Largemouth bass can be recognized by the lower[...]

FishTalk Magazine Feature As part of this road series, Lenny Rudow and FishTalk covered the trip with a featured article. Read a snippet of it below with a link to the full feature. "I'll be the first to admit it: I'm utterly incompetent with a fly rod in my hands. I tried fly fishing back in my 20's and quickly came to admire the artistic side of this endeavor, but eventually concluded that it wouldn't[...]

One of Maryland’s best kept fly fishing secrets, the Casselman River is mostly a brown and rainbow trout spot with the occasional brook trout hiding out in the undercuts of the banks and current. Your typical match the hatch presentation is the direction you want to go while targeting the fish on this river. The Casselman is featured in an article and video road trip series with FishTalk Magazine. See full video and article HERE[...]

Fun to catch, these fish travel in schools, moving from salt water to coastal marshes throughout the year—providing anglers an extremely passionate fishery. But don't get them confused with the small stream trout anglers catch in Western Maryland. Key Distinguishing Markings: Spotted sea trout are dusky gray on top fading to silver at the belly. The upper body is marked with numerous dark spots which extend into the dorsal and tail fins. The dorsal and[...]

FishTalk Magazine Feature As part of this road series, Lenny Rudow and FishTalk covered the trip with a featured article. Read a snippet of it below with a link to the full feature. "Like many people who grew up in the region I’ve been going on summer family vacations to Ocean City for my entire life. Unlike many, my fascination with the beach ended the moment I had to reel in my line. I get[...]