Will be in area of Flintstone and Cumberland, MD for short conference. May be able to steal a few hours to fish. Any suggestions on nearby streams appreciated.
Best bet is the Savage River…headwaters have LOTS of brookies (as does almost every single trib of the headwaters), tailwater is about 75% brown/25% brookie, all nice plump healthy fish.
Not sure how the NB Potomac looks right now, never really fished it…but it’s a little tougher to fish than the Savage.
PM me if you like, I can give you some specifics.
Marty
GrMtMAN,
I live in Cumberland. Let me know when you might be coming and I might be able to set you up with your own personal guide service.
MrFishingToughGuy & Rookie,
Thanks for the info and offer of personal guide service. Unfortunately, I got to my conference yesterday and found out that the trout season wasn’t open yet as it opens in Maryland this Saturday. Poo!Didn’t even give it a thought as I can fish all year round in Virginia. May try fishing on the lake at Rocky Gap Lodge tomorrow with a three day out of state license that they can get for me here. Won’t have much more time as I have to attend some of the conference events. Thanks again for your offers. Passed over Fifteen Mile Creek on the way here and the water looked great. Sorry to miss it.
Don’t know if you will get this in time, but, looking out of the back of the lodge, there is a cove to your right. There are two points, the one the lodge is on and the one over at the swimming area. There is a nice drop off out from the point of the swimming area and it circles half way into the cove. Try that area and also try down at the boat launch. Since the amphitheater was put in, it ruined a perfectly good spawning area.
Hope you enjoy your stay and good luck.
If I’m not mistaken, isn’t the Savage open year-round?
Marty
I believe all catch-and release streams are open year 'round.
Regards,
Scott
Hi Marty,
The Savage is broken in to two different parts, the reservoir and the river. Different rules apply to each. The river has a closed season where you are not allowed to fish for any species. I believe that ends tomorrow.
Here’s what I dug up from the DNR website:
Restrictions - The regulation strategy includes a Fly Fishing Only Trophy Trout Management Area located in the section of the river from the Savage River Reservoir downstream 1.25 miles to the Allegany Bridge. A Trophy Trout Management Area, restricted to the use of artificial lures or flies, is located between the Allegany Bridge and the mouth of the river, a distance of approximately 2.75 miles. Regulations for both Trophy Trout Management Areas include a year-round open season, a 12-inch minimum size limit for brook trout, an 18-inch minimum size limit for brown trout, and a two-trout daily creel limit. There is no minimum size limit on rainbow trout in either area. The stocking of hatchery trout in the SRT was discontinued after 1990. Please consult the Maryland Freshwater Sportfishing Guide for complete regulation details.
Marty
I called DNR right before I responded to your post because I wasn’t sure either. He read the rule (supposedly) right out of the new handbook. The Savage River area has always been surrounded with controversy in one way or another. Hopefully, someday they will get it right.
Steve,
I definitely wasn’t trying to start some kind of squabble with ya…just to be clear!!!
I have also heard various sides of the story. I fished both upper and lower Savage around the end of November (both were smokin hot) and spoke with Mike @ Savage River Outfitters before I got on the water. His version of the story was that the tailwater section was open year-round and that the tribs to the headwaters and the headwaters were also open year-round as delayed harvest C&R (I know the headwaters are stocked in the fall as DH as I caught a dozen rainbows while I was up above the reservoir). I would have liked to get the info right from the horse’s—er DNR’s—mouth but was met with a series of annoying phone hoops when I contacted them.
On another note, would you be up for joining me on an outing on the Savage or in Shenandoah NP on some Sunday this spring? I might get out to SNP this Sunday if I’m released from honey-do obligations…
Marty
PS Thanks for the dialogue. I have never been clear on the regs, even by way of the DNR site.
Certainly no argument here either. I have never been absolutely clear on some regulations in Maryland. I have found that the DNR, sometimes isn’t clear on the REGS either. No disrespect meant their to them.
I would love to go fishing and am usually pretty flexible with my time. If you want, send me a PM with your schedule and I will send you my phone number etc.
Great! Look forward to sharing fish stories with ya…
Marty
Steve & Marty,
Thanks again for the fishing tips. Looks like I’m not going to be able to wet a line while here; but, I did tie 15 flies during breaks and noon recess at our conference today. Am putting them in our “silent auction” money raiser for our association. Told the person running the auction to tell folks that it’s about $30.00 worth of flies if you bought them and the “tier’s” expertise was, just like the TV commercial says, “Priceless!” That should gather a few hearty laughs.
I will be fortunate enough to be on the Savage River Sunday - Tuesday this week. We’ve rented a cabin and plan to spend a little time there as well as on the Savage and maybe another river in the area. If you see a 6/4" bald headed guy trying hard not to fall in the river, well, that’ll be me.
The way the rivers look and the weather has been, you should have a great time. Hope you enjoy your stay here in our neck of the woods.
Marty,
PM sent.
Scott