Beyond its rich 400+ year history, St. Mary’s River also provides a unique fly fishing experience on a tidal river which widens with every mile traveled towards its ultimate union with the tidal Potomac River.  Sunfish, largemouth bass, yellow perch, white perch and catfish are on the menu down here in St. Mary’s County. The first few miles provide a very intimate fly fishing experience, requiring short casts. Soon the river opens up, adding extensive adjacent wetlands along the shorelines. The character of the river changes even further to an open large tidal river with extensive shorelines to explore. It’s like getting at least three very different fly fishing experiences all from one tidal river.

Site Location

 

The tidal St. Mary’s River, located in St. Mary’s County, starts in Lexington Park and continues down to its confluence with the tidal Potomac River.

Address

Great Mills Canoe/Kayak Launch 20228 Point Lookout Road, Great Mills, MD 20634

How to Get There

From Leonardtown heading south on MD-5/Point Lookout Road, as you are entering Great Mills, Maryland, pull into the parking lot for the Great Mills Post Office on the left hand side of the road and head around the right side of the building to park and get access to the river.

Parking & Launching

Parking is located adjacent to the stair access to the river on a gravel lot. This access site is for non-motorized vessels only. Boats must be carried a short distance from the parking lot to the water. The water is reached by wooden stairs along the shoreline. Use caution as the stairs can be slippery when wet.

Where to Fish

For the best fly fishing, you will need a boat, canoe or kayak as there is very limited shoreline fishing. Cast towards the shorelines looking for any underwater structures like downed trees, branches and underwater grasses.

What to Catch

Sunfish, largemouth bass, yellow perch, white perch and catfish

What to Fish & How

Recommend bringing 6-8 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 yellow perch, white perch and catfish, recommend Clouser minnows and other minnow imitations.  For sunfish, recommend poppers, wooly buggers, and insect patterns with rubber legs.

Fly Fishing Organizations

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