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[...]

Beyond its rich 400+ year history, St. Mary’s River also provides a unique fly fishing experience on a tidal river which widens with every mile traveled towards its ultimate union with the tidal Potomac River. Sunfish, largemouth bass, yellow perch, white perch and catfish are on the menu down here in St. Mary’s County. The first few miles provide a very intimate fly fishing experience, requiring short casts. Soon the river opens up, adding extensive[...]

There is a true gem in St. Mary’s County when it comes to fishing and that is St. Mary’s Lake. Nested within St. Mary’s State Park’s 2,200 acres of mainly undeveloped lands, the lake encompasses 250 acres of fishing habitat for a great assortment of fish species including bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, chain pickerel and yellow perch. The park offers a modern comfort station, picnic tables, playground, boat launch ramps and a large[...]

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[...]

Taking smallmouth bass with popping bugs is some of the most exciting fishing available. The strike is explosive and there is the added benefit that poppers take some of the largest bass. The Potomac River in Washington County provides exactly these types of prime smallmouth bass fly fishing opportunities given its wide, shallow nature with lots of rock ledges running across the river leading to riffles and long pools. Walking the footpath alongside the C&O[...]

As you head down the hill towards the shoreline and launch ramps along Piney Run Reservoir, you will automatically be wondering “where do I want to start fishing?” Piney Run Park and the Reservoir gives you a lot of choices in terms of where to fish and what to fish for. First, where to fish. You can fly fish from the shoreline in the immediate area around the boat launch ramps as well as from[...]

Protected by the Patapsco Valley State Park, the Patapsco River offers a great fly fishing experience for those just starting to pick up the fly rod as well as those who have been fly fishing for decades. The State Park provides multiple points to access the river, each with parking, and the river itself is easy to fish from shore or by wading in the gentle currents. In the spring, you can cast for the[...]

Located adjacent to the famous lighthouse, Thomas Point Park provides unique access to fly fishing Chesapeake Bay without the need for a boat. You can fly fish from much of the shoreline around this peninsula, casting into Fishing Creek, Chesapeake Bay and the South River in search of striped bass, white perch, blue catfish and channel catfish. You may launch a kayak on the south side beach as well as wade fish. In addition to[...]

The Assawoman Bay Trail site is the ideal spot to fly fish in Maryland’s expansive coastal bays. Launching on the bay side of Worcester County’s Ocean City at the 64th Street Boat Ramp, you will find yourself trying to decide—do I go north into Assawoman Bay or head south into Isle of Wight? You can’t make the wrong decision here as you are literally surrounded by acres and acres of shallow-water habitat ready made for[...]