Located at the Allegany County Fairgrounds which sits along the Potomac River, beneath the beautiful cliffs of Knobley Mountain.
Grab your pole and tackle box, pack up a little cooler, and head outside to some of Allegany County’s favorite fishing holes . With the Potomac River forming the southern border of the county and the sloping hillsides that make up the Allegheny Mountain Range, the creeks, rivers, and waterways that flow through the mountains are the perfect place to cast a line and soak up some rays. Some of Mountain Maryland's greatest assets are[...]
Maryland Bears Black bear are located primarily in Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Frederick counties. Populations are highest in Garrett and Allegany counties, with numbers continuing to rise throughout the western region of Maryland. Although evidence of a breeding population is confined to the western four counties, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources receives several bear sightings and complaints in central and southern Maryland counties each year. Bears are the largest mammals in Maryland. Adult bears[...]
Because of its relatively remote location in Green Ridge State Forest in Allegany County, Town Creek receives little fishing pressure from other anglers. This stream has great structure provided by tree root balls and small stream falls, all resulting in an ideal habitat for trout and other species. The creek’s flows and temperatures are usually good enough to support the stocked rainbow and brown trout until mid-summer. Smallmouth bass and sunfish provide other target species[...]
Battie Mixon The Battie Mixon Fishing Pond is a mile-long stretch of fishing inside the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Located at Canal Mile 168, the pond was constructed in 1945 by a volunteer group of Western Maryland sportsmen and was named after the Allegany County game warden that conceived the idea. The fishing hole is stocked annually by the Maryland DNR and is a great place to catch rainbow trout, largemouth bass, sunfish, and[...]
The 243-acre Lake Habeeb, known for having the "bluest water in the state”, is nested within Rocky Gap State Park located in Western Maryland’s Allegany County. The park, which encompasses over 3,000 acres of public land for visitors to enjoy, is surrounded by rugged mountains making Lake Habeeb a truly beautiful place to fly fish. With generally excellent water clarity, a fly fisher can target largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, channel catfish, stocked rainbow[...]
Bear activity is increasing throughout western Maryland as the black bear population continues to expand eastward. With its rural landscape and vast forested land, western Maryland holds some prime bear habitat, much of which is found on public lands open for hunting. A Guide to Planning a Black Bear Hunt in Maryland There are a limited number of bear hunting permits available each year in Maryland and they are awarded through a lottery drawing. The[...]
Turkeys usually conjure images of colorful leaves and crisp fall days, but with the arrival of spring comes the start of turkey hunting in Maryland. Spring turkey season begins April 18, 2018 and lasts through May 23rd, with a special youth turkey season scheduled the weekend of April 14-15. Found across Maryland, Eastern wild turkey populations are near an all-time high – now numbering around 40,000 – thanks, in part, to an intensive trap and[...]
I can remember my first fish as if I had caught it yesterday. It was a small but spirited bluegill from the waters of the Gunpowder River on a simple cane pole. Indeed, a defining moment in the life of a young angler. I haven’t been the same since! Now, sixty years later, that special joy and excitement still fills my spirit every time I see a bobber dip below the water’s surface. To be[...]
As the famous fishing author John Gierach once wrote, "the only thing a psychiatrist can do that a good (fishing) guide can't is write prescriptions.” In Western Maryland’s rolling mountains, rushing rivers and streams, and dense forests, his words have never been more true. With fresh air, scenery, peace and quiet, and plenty of trout to chase, Western Maryland is the perfect location for a fishing trip. Here are five reasons to head west in[...]