Turner's Creek Park welcomes you to come out and experience fly fishing on a wonderful upper Eastern Shore tidal river filled with miles and miles of tidal shoreline and tidal creeks leading to even smaller tidal creeks. These waters hold bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, white catfish, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel, northern snakehead, and blue catfish—clearly something for everyone in your fishing party. You will definitely need a boat—a kayak, canoe, stand-up paddle boat, jon boat, or a bass boat to fish these productive waters.  

Exiting Turner's Creek puts you right into the Sassafras River, with options to fish the northern or southern shoreline and head east towards the heads of the river or west towards the river mouth and Chesapeake Bay. But one warning—if you travel to this Trail site in July and August, you may spend more time looking at the truly incredible sight of acres and acres of blooming lotus flowers rather than fly fishing!

Fees

There is a fee to enter Turner's Creek Park and use the boat launch.

Site Location

Located in Kent County, Turner's Creek connects with the Sassafras River on its southern shore on the lower third of the river.

Address

Turner's Creek Park, 13761 Turners Creek Rd, Kennedyville, MD 21645

How to Get There

From Interstate 95, take the exit for Route 272 South and follow it into North East going past the intersection with Route 40. Take a right on to West Walnut street which leads to North East Community Park.

Parking & Launching

Parking is located adjacent to the tidal creek on a gravel lot. Use the concrete boat launch or the floating soft access launch directly adjacent to the parking lot. Parking on site often fills up on weekends. Call ahead for status: 410-820-1668.

Where to Fish 

For the best fly fishing, you will need a boat, canoe or kayak as there is very limited shoreline fishing. Fish sod banks close in on points near the mouth of Turner’s Creek or across the Sassafras River around Ordinary Point and Sassafras River Light. Check both Howell Point and Grove Point near the mouth of the river both close to shore and near ledges along the shipping channel. Fish docks, duck blinds, and submerged rock piles for white perch.

What to Catch 

Bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, white catfish, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel, northern snakehead and blue catfish

What to Fish & How

Recommend bringing 6-7 weight fly rods with floating, intermediate and sink tip fly lines. For largemouth bass, recommend medium-sized poppers and floating frog patterns, Clouser minnows, and other minnow imitations. For catfish, recommend a variety of baitfish patterns including Clouser minnows and Lefty's Deceivers. Use Clouser Deep Minnows or Deceivers for striped bass sized similar to fish in bait schools or try poppers around sod points in low light situations.

Fly Fishing Organizations

Connect with local fly fishing organizations to learn about mentoring opportunities and to connect with others interested in fly fishing.