From its headwaters in Pennsylvania, the Monocacy River flows 58 miles through Frederick County into the Potomac River. With river access via multiple bridge crossings and several riverside parks, much of the river can be wade-fished with about half of the river navigable by a canoe or kayak. The Trail site is focused on the upper river where fly fishers can cast for smallmouth bass, sunfish and channel catfish. Given much of the river’s shorelines are enveloped in buffering riverside forests, when you are wading the river and casting in its seemingly endless riffles flowing into calm long pools you can easily forget the world around you and focus on next cast just knowing there is a smallmouth bass waiting there to strike at your fly.

Site Location 

Monocacy River flows 58 miles through Frederick County, extending from the Pennsylvania state line down to the Potomac River, passing by the City of Frederick.

Address

Mumma Ford Road access: 39.62351275388138, -77.29861747932802

Rocky Ridge Road access: 39.603615090224395, -77.29366947732304

Legore Bridge Road access: 39.580536636266466, -77.31359287583768

Creagerstown Park 12099-12101 MD-550, Thurmont, MD 21788

How to Get There

From Interstate-70, take to Maryland Route 75 to Maryland Route 550 to Woodsboro to access the river where bridges on Mumma Ford Road, Rocky Ridge Road, and Legore Bridge Road cross the Monocacy River. You can also access the river via  Creagerstown Park.

Parking & Launching 

There are small dirt and gravel roadside parking areas located next to the following bridge crossings over the river: Mumma Ford Road, Rocky Ridge Road, and Legore Bridge Road. Creagerstown Park has a gravel parking lot. A boat launch ramp is available at Creagerstown Park 12099-12101 MD-550, Thurmont, MD 21788.

Where to Fish 

You can fly fish the river from the bank or by wading in the river. You can also fly fish the river from a canoe, kayak or small raft depending on the water levels.

What to Catch 

Smallmouth bass, sunfish and channel catfish

What to Fish & How

Recommend bringing 4-5 weight fly rods with floating fly lines with 9' leaders with 3x tippets. For smallmouth bass and panfish, recommend poppers, wooly buggers, and insect patterns with rubber legs. For channel catfish, recommend Clouser Minnow patterns.

Fly Fishing Organizations

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