When you launch your canoe or kayak at Porters Crossing on the upper Pocomoke River, you will soon feel you have been transported to Jurassic Park expecting to see some dinosaur around the next bend or one of those prehistoric dragonflies with a six-foot wingspan. It is truly a magical place being surrounded by tall cypress trees and a great tidal river to fly fish. Lurking below the surface of those darkened waters, there are bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, white catfish, white perch, yellow perch, and chain pickerel. On the same exact river, several miles down-river you can launch at Byrd Park in Snow Hill where the river widens out significantly and have a completely different fly fishing experience, fly casting for the same species. The great news is you can have both river experiences in the same day with the livery services offered at this Trail site in Worcester County.

Site Location

The Upper Pocomoke River extends from Snow Hill up about 4 miles to the Porter Crossing Road, all located in Worcester County.

Address

Porters Crossing Rd, Snow Hill, MD 21863

Byrd Park: 400 Dighton Ave, Snow Hill, MD 21863

How to Get There

Porters Crossing Road, north of Snow Hill off Route 113

Parking & Launching

There are paved parking areas at two separate boat ramps at Byrd Park which you can access off of West Market Street in Snow Hill, Maryland. There is no parking at the Porters Crossing Road soft access launch where you can launch kayaks and canoes. Recommend you make arrangements for a boat livery service to drop you and your kayaks or canoes at the soft access launch.

Boat Rentals

Kayak and canoe rentals as well as boat livery services are available at the Pocomoke River Canoe Company located at 2 River St, Snow Hill, MD 21863.

Where to Fish

From shore, fish the breakwater around the park and along the river walk closer to Snow Hill. From a boat or kayak, fish edges and ledges near the deepest holes in winter/spring for perch & crappie. Fish grass banks, tree falls, and lily pads for bass. Note: there is good fishing above the Snow Hill drawbridge. Bridge openings are required at high tide for even very small boats or kayaks. Call 410-632-0511 at least 5 hours in advance of opening time.

What to Catch

Spring: Yellow perch, white perch, chain pickerel, crappie and largemouth bass

Summer: White perch, crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and northern snakehead

Fall: Largemouth bass, white perch, snakeheads, crappie and sunfish

Winter: Yellow perch, crappie and largemouth bass

You can also catch channel catfish and striped bass at this Trail site.

What to Fish & How

For bass and chain pickerel, use 5 to 8 weight fly rods with no. 4 or no. 6 Clouser minnows or crawfish patterns with 10'–12’ fluorocarbon leader on floating line or shorter leader with intermediate or sinking lines. For panfish, use 3 to 5 weight fly rods with small streamers patterns in the winter and spring and then poppers in summer and fall.

Fly Fishing Organizations

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