Gone Fishing' in Western Maryland
From the Eastern Shore to Western Maryland, the FHMD crew and FishTalk Magazine's Lenny Rudow and Zach Ditmars hit the road to target Maryland's world class trout fishery on the Cassleman River. Maryland has over 600 miles of freshwater rivers and streams packed with high-quality brook, rainbow and brown trout, making it the ideal place for your next fishing adventure. The Casselman is great spot whether you’re a serious angler chasing the trout of a lifetime, or just teaching the kids the basics of fly-fishing.
Scroll down to view the video of the second part of this road trip series as we head to the Western Maryland for some trout fishing.
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 be my prime modus operandi.
I don't think this decision had anything to do with the fact that the first time I tried practice casting my new fly rod, I swung the tip in the overhead power line and snapped off six inches of graphite. Nor do I blame the time I back cast a Wooly Bugger into my right ear. Or when I discovered performing a solid strip set into a stump while holding a fly rod 90 degrees to the side in a canoe creates enough off-center force to roll it.
So, when the Fish & Hunt Maryland guys said they wanted to go fly fishing, I began to sweat..."
To continue reading the FishTalk article click here.
Where we Fished
One of Maryland’s best kept secrets for fly fishing, 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. Click here to learn more about the Casselman River.
Fishing for Trout
Brook trout are native to eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, extending as far west as eastern Minnesota. Their original range also included the Appalachian Mountains, where they are still found in many high elevation streams as far south as Georgia. They have been widely introduced into several western states. Brook trout are the only trout native to Maryland waters. Rainbow trout were transplanted to Maryland from the west coast of the United States. They are native to the Pacific slope from the mountains in northern Mexico, through the western United States around Alaska and the Bering Sea to the northern regions of Asia. They have been introduced into every state in the Union, as well as worldwide. Brown trout vary greatly in appearance. Generally, they are olive green to brown on top shading to a creamy, golden-yellow on the sides and an off white along the belly. Most brown trout are covered with black spots along their sides, back and dorsal fin with each spot surrounded by a light halo. Frequently, the spots near the lateral line are red. Unlike brook and rainbow trout, the tails of brown trout have few if any spots.
Seasons
Trout season is open year-round for all species, giving anglers access to our world-class trout throughout the year. However, there are certain dates and locations throughout the year in which closures occur. During closures, catch-and-release policies and/or no fishing is mandated. For information on seasons, sizes and limits click HERE.
Opportunity
While some of the best trout fishing opportunities can be found in Maryland’s Western region, there are great, accessible fishing areas throughout the state. There are nearly 100 streams that support native, self-supporting, world-class populations of brook trout. Concentrations of brook trout streams are found in central and northern Baltimore County, the Catoctin Mountains of Frederick County, and in far Western Maryland, mainly in Garrett County. Rainbow trout are stocked in well over 100 streams and lakes across the state.
A naturally reproducing population is also found in Garrett County's North Branch Potomac River downstream of the Jennings Randolph Lake Dam. Some of the best wild brown trout fishing is found in Baltimore County in the Gunpowder River watershed, including Bee Tree Run, Little Falls, Western Run, and the entire mainstream of the Gunpowder Falls between Prettyboy and Loch Raven Reservoirs. Other fine naturally reproducing brown trout fisheries include the Jones Falls in Baltimore County, Hunting Creek in Frederick County, and the lower Savage River in Garrett County. If finding the best spots in Maryland appeals to you, hiring a guide is the way to go. Without buying your own license, you can fish all day next to an experienced guide that knows the waters and where the trout are, ensuring that you get the most out of your trip to Maryland.