In addition to the reputation for producing really big blue crabs, the tidal waters around Wye Island also host some very productive fish habitats, ideal for fly fishing. Launching from Wye Landing on the Wye East River, you will quickly find yourself at the eastern end of Wye Island adjacent to Skipton Creek. If you circumnavigated the entire island, you would pass by Pickering, Gross and Lloyd creeks, and Shaw Bay on the south side of the island. And on the north side, the Wye River and the Wye Narrows. 

Bottom-line: you have enough places to fly fish to require many return trips! Even better, there will be different fish available for catching during all the seasons: pickerel in winter followed by yellow perch and then white perch, striped bass up next with largemouth, crappie, catfish and bluegill during the summers (with white perch making a return appearance) and into the fall.

Fees

There is a fee to use the boat launches to access this Trail site.

Site Location

Wye East River is located on the Eastern Shore in Talbot County, just south of Wye Mills, Maryland

Address

Wye Landing 12498 Wye Landing Lane, Wye Mills, MD 21679

How to Get There

From the western shore, take Route 50 over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Take a right turn off onto MD-662/Wye Mills Road just before passing by Chesapeake College. About a mile and half past Wye Mills, Maryland, take a right turn onto Wye Landing Lane, following it to the end and the boat launch and parking area.

Parking & Launching

There is a paved parking area at Wye Landing with parking for 10 boat trailers and 10 cars. You can launch your boat at Wye Landing Boat Ramp at 12498 Wye Landing Lane Wye Mills, MD 21679.

Boat Rentals

You can rent rowboats and powerboats at Schnaitman’s Boats located adjacent to Wye Landing at 12498 Wye Landing Lane, Wye Mills, MD 21679.

Where to Fish

Fish points of land with current breaks or around tree falls, duck blinds, and other cover and physical structures.

Yellow and white perch can be found in headwaters and striped bass on flats near the mouth of the river in early spring and later around sodbanks, ledges and rock piles. In the summer and fall, striped bass can be found on sod banks, ledges and submerged rock piles. Also during summer and fall, white perch are also found on submerged rock piles with occasional speckled trout on sod banks. In winter, yellow perch and chain pickerel are found in headwaters of the tidal creeks and embayments.

What to Catch

Spring: Yellow perch and white perch

Summer: Striped bass, white perch and speckled trout

Fall: Striped bass and white perch

Winter: Yellow perch and chain pickerel

What to Fish & How

Recommend using 5 to 8 weight fly rods with size no. 4 or no. 6 Clousers minnows or other minnow patterns with 10'-12’ fluorocarbon leader on floating line or shorter leader with an intermediate or sinking line.

Fly Fishing Organizations

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