In our state of Maryland, September and October brings more than spectacular foliage. As stockings pick up and anglers concentrate on other species, fall bring with it a pleasant shift in trout fishing opportunities for both fly and spin fishermen. Throw in the fact that many Free State outdoorsmen and women are taking to the woods for the annual deer, waterfowl and small game seasons and one can imagine that many of our better trout[...]

Central and Western Maryland’s small streams provide fishing experiences in picturesque settings. Checking on stream conditions before heading out is always a good idea, particularly before wading in or paddling. Many Potomac and Monocacy River tributary streams are home to a variety of gamefish. Smallmouth bass, however, remain high on the “hit list” for anglers tossing small crank baits, spinners or even fly-fishing efforts with poppers or streamers. Throw in the ever-present populations of red[...]

The Hagerstown Valley sits atop miles of underground limestone caverns which support Maryland’s largest spring creek, Beaver Creek, which rises up with cool water just below South Mountain in Washington County. The Catch and Release stretch begins below the Albert Powell Fish Hatchery and Interstate 70. This section down to Route 40 has a healthy naturally reproducing stream population of brown trout. Beaver Creek provides fly fishers with this unique, sometimes challenging opportunity to cast[...]

Imagine a 17th-century Dutch painting, with rolling farms and a gentle gradient river flowing through a picturesque valley, and you’ve just described western Maryland’s Casselman River. Located 15 miles northwest of the Garrett County FLy Fishing Trail Site at Big Run State Park - about a 20 minute drive - the Casselman is one of Maryland’s best kept secrets for fly fishing. It’s springtime and mid-morning on the Casselman and there’s a caddis hatch on[...]

Protected by Seneca Creek State Park during its 14-mile journey between Clopper Lake and the Potomac River, Seneca Creek provides a great medium-sized creek fly fishing experience right in Montgomery County. Spring stocking of rainbow trout starts three seasons of fly fishing opportunities at this Trail site, followed by summer and fall fishing for smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish. Parking lots set up for accessing the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail also provide convenient access to[...]

Freshwater With water temps ranging between 68-75 degrees, fishing across the state is at its peak. Anglers have reported prime spawning conditions when targeting bass, snakeheads are still being spotted guarding fry balls, and fishermen and women are consistently catching brown and brook trout on dry flies in the streams and creeks. Prime locations include Loch Raven Reservoir and Deep Creek Lake. Located just north of Baltimore, Loch Raven is ideal for any angler. This[...]

Hand-sized, pan-sized. Any species that can be legally harvested at a small enough size to fit in the skillet is considered a panfish. For anglers who love lots of action, easy access, and fried fish, panfishing covers all the bases. It's also a great way to introduce kids to fishing, with easy-to-catch species and quick rewards that build confidence and keep them engaged. Sunfish There are over 30 species of sunfish, or “sunnies” in North[...]

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[...]

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[...]