    
Keith Albright
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2001 - 9:24 pm: | |
Subject: The Western Maryland Report
My apologies for the latenest of the report. I needed some extra time to fish all of the Garrett County rivers this spring.
It's May in Western Maryland and the fishing is starting to turn on. The high waters of March and early April have receded. If you have access to the net go to http://water.usgs.gov/public/district/md/ This will give you the
up to date conditions on water levels. I've found in the past that high April waters make for excellent May/June fishing. Water temperature wise things are about normal for this time of year. Let's take a look at each of the rivers in the area.
Casselman - Right now, the Casselman fishing has been good if you are lucky enough to get a day of few fishermen. Water levels are a little low (1.1 ft. as of this writing) but quite fishable. I personally like from 1.8 - 2.2. The Gauge is located on the far side of the River Road Bridge. Check it when you arrive. Fish can be taken from the route 68 bridge all the way to the Pa. State line. (Into Pa. if you have a pa license) Although the fish seem to be more concentrated in the larger pools, don't overlook any part of the river, the local TU chapter along with help has done a nice job float stocking. This is a delayed harvest area that is artificial only until the middle of June. Both browns and rainbows are present, some over 18 inches.
For fly fisherman, various beadhead nymphs, Prince Nymphs and Zug Bugs will work. Experiment with color on the beadheads. When in doubt go lighter. Some fisherman is doing well on soft hackles. Sculpins and small Clousers are working, when fished with six-inch strips or hung in the deeper holes. When the water is low, I like to go to dries. I get tired of the hang-ups in the many Casselman rocks. Have a supply of small Gnats and Elk hair caddis. The last two times on the river I fished only dries and did quite well. Approach is everything under low water conditions, so keep wading to a minimum. I saw Hendricksons, March Browns, two different caddis and numerous gnats and mi ges in one pool. I also saw a sulphur in the same pool. We had a decent sulphur hatch last year on the Casselman, and I expect it again this year.
Most of the fish have been in long enough that they are beginning to key in on conventional flies. Unfortunately, the Casselman has become very popular and can get crowded on May and June weekends.
The North Branch- Great news. The North Branch is loaded with fish and the water levels have dropped to fishable levels (210 at Barnum as of this writing). If you can get a day when the water levels are low (200-250 is ideal), you will catch fish. The lower catch and release area that runs from Blue Hole down for 4 miles has browns, bows and some small cuts. Same for the upper catch and release area. Beadheads, Nymphs, Buggers and small Clousers or Sculpins will all take fish.
Don't expect much dry fly action because the water coming out of Jennings Randolph is still cold; but I would carry some midges (20-24), Caddis (16) and maybe a few March Browns (12). The put and take area between Blue Hole and the upper catch and release area is absolutely loaded from the many stockings and should not be over looked if it is not crowded. As of this writing, thousands of fish have been stocked in the put and take area, few of which have been caught due to the higher water early this spring. The state has stocked some really nice fish in the put and take area. Anywhere you can fish in this put and take area can be good.
Check the DNR web page for whitewater releases before you go. The delayed harvest area above Jennings Randolph has also been stocked and is at fishable levels. (119 as of this writing, 100 - 200 ideal) Fishing is fair to good but you will have to work for your fish. The same assortments that work on the lower will work on the upper. Add a Mickey Finn and a Crayfish pattern and your ready to go. Lostland would be my first choice. A word of warning. Don't try to fish the upper North Branch if the waters are high; its just to easy to get swept away.
The Savage- The upper Savage (Put and Take area) has been well stocked and the crowds are beginning to thin. This is easy water to access and wade and can save the day when other rivers are not fishable. It also drops very rapidly after a heavy rain. The lower area (Fly fishing only and Trophy trout sections) is low but fishing well. (50-100 cfs is a good range. As of this writing the level is 61) Sculpins, stonefly nymphs and beadheads are usually good producers. Look for Midges (22-24) anytime; Blue Duns (14), March Browns (12), and the Gray Fox early in the month; and if we are lucky
some Green Drakes about the third weekend and sulphurs after that. I like the Savage in late May and June, especially if there is high or dirty water on the other rivers. Unfortunately so do a lot of other people. If you like to cover a lot of water fishing I would rule out the Savage. Also, remember that the water gods have greased those wonderful Savage River rocks, so felt soles and wading staff are the minimum unless you plan on doing a little swimming. Many of the same hatches on the lower Savage occur on the upper Savage only earlier. I've had some wonderful days in the past on the upper Savage in May fishing dries, when the lower Savage was crowded or unfishable.
The Yough- Water levels on the Yough were high earlier this spring but are OK now. (140 as of this writing. 150-200 is ideal) For Dry fly fishing small midges and Gnats (22-26) should do well anytime this month. So will Tan, Brown or Slate Gray caddis. My pet Yough dry fly is a Slate Gray Caddis in size 16. It seems to work on almost all of the hatches. I'm also never without the old standby the Griffiths Gnat. Blue Duns (14) and March Browns (12) and Hendricksons during May, and the Green Drakes the end of May.
Although I feel the Drake is over rated in Western Maryland, we actually had a fishable hatch last 2 years. Sulphurs will follow. Terrestrials such as ants can be deadly near the bank areas. Beadheads, Sculpins, small Clousers and Buggers will work underneath. Don’t forget the Crayfish on either side of the new moon. Hatches on the Yough are not as spectacular as the Savage, but much more consistent.
The bad news on the Yough has been the unscheduled releases. Call 814-533-8911 for the release schedule; but keep an eye out for rising water.
The unscheduled releases seem to be at peak demand periods, so early and late in the day seem to be a little safer. There are a lot of fish in the Yough but most are small from the fingerling stocking. If you have your heart set
on large fish, go to the Casselman or the North Branch.
Weather wise Garrett County this year is about even with central Md. in temperature and precip. All rivers are in fishable conditions, but are getting low fast. |
