Surrounded by a vast forested watershed and protected within the Morgan Run Natural Environmental Area, Morgan Run is a trout stream located within an hour’s drive of many Marylanders.  Regularly stocked with brown and rainbow trout by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, this section of the stream is a Catch & Return Trout Fishing Area - limited to artificial lure fishing.  This means there are more opportunities to catch good-sized trout.  The miles of fishable stream include deep pools, riffles, and rock gardens, all providing excellent habitat for trout and ideal waters for fly fishing.  Morgan Run is one of the few places in Maryland which provides handicapped fly fishers with the stream-side opportunity to fly cast into a beautiful stream run and large pool in search of hungry trout.

Accessibility

A recently upgraded ADA-compliant fishing platform is available the Eldersburg park. The upgrades include a reconfigured slope of the existing pathway, paved parking lot, and a more favorable instream habitat to hold trout closer to the fishing platform.

Address

Klees Mill Road, Westminster, MD 21157

Jim Bowers Road 39.473046221614176, -76.98490878452718

Site Location

Located south of Westminster, Maryland, Morgan Run flows southeast through Carroll County before flowing into Liberty Reservoir.

How to Get There

From Interstate 70, take the exit onto Maryland Route 97 north, right turn onto Bartholow Road and then a left turn onto Klees Mill Road which takes you to the parking lot next to the stream within less than 3 miles.

To access the stream at Jim Bowers Road, from Interstate 70, take the exit onto Maryland Route 97 north, turn right onto Nicodemus Road and then turn right onto Jim Bowers Road which takes you to roadside parking next to the stream.

Parking

Parking at the Klees Mill Road access is located adjacent to the stream on a dirt lot. Parking at the Jim Bowers access is located on the sides of the road near the bridge over the stream.

To access the stream at Jim Bowers Road, from Interstate 70, take exit onto Maryland 97 north, turn right onto Nicodemus Road and then right onto Jim Bowers Road which will take you to roadside parking next to the stream.

Where to Fish 

At both access points, you can fly fish upstream and downstream from the stream bank or by wading in the stream. Note there are trails along the stream which you can follow to access different sections of the stream. Some trail sections are very steep and climb over rock and rock formations. You should focus on fishing the riffles and deeper pools.  Please note this section of the stream is a Catch & Return Trout Fishing Area - Limited to Artificial Lure Fishing.

What to Catch

Brown trout and rainbow trout

What to Fish & How 

A 4 or 5 weight 7 1/2 or 8-foot 4 weight fly rod, with a 9-foot leader works fine. Recommend fly patterns include mayfly and caddis dry fly imitations, nymphs, and small wooly buggers.

Fly Fishing Organizations

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