Gunpowder River and other MD trout streams

Hello All!

I'm new to the site but wanted to know if anyone out there fishes the
Gunpowder in Maryland. I'm just getting back into this and any info on
good spots, what to use, or technique in general would be greatly
appreciated.

Also interested in trying some of the other local trout streams if you
have any suggestions.

Finally... know any good spots for stream Brookies near Baltimore? Any
of the streams in Northern Baltimore county worth trying?

Thanks

zdank wrote:
I'm new to the site but wanted to know if anyone out there fishes the
Gunpowder in Maryland. I'm just getting back into this and any info on
good spots, what to use, or technique in general would be greatly
appreciated.

Without doubt, the Gunpowder is the premier stream in the immediate
Baltimore area for trout, but there are several other good
opportunities for flyfishing in the area. The area is generally a
put-and-take fishery, and the DNR stocks several local streams every
spring. If you avoid the meat fishermen on the opening days for the
respective streams, it can still be fun. The upper parts of Deer Creek
in Harford County are some of the prettiest countryside you'll find
in MD, and it's a great river. The Little Gunpowder on the boundary
between Harford & Balto Counties is also a pretty little stream, but
I've never fished it. West of Balto, you could look at Morgan Mill.
I've never fished it, but I used to hear the locals at Fisherman's
Edge talking about it in sometimes glowing terms. Head a little
farther north, and you can hit the Big Elk Creek in Cecil County or
White Clay Creek in Delaware. Go down into the Blue Ridge Mountains
and you'll find those brookies you're after.

If you're not married to trout, the upper, free flowing parts of the
Patapsco River have received high praise for bass and trout depending
on where you are. I'm not as familiar with it, but my best fishing
buddy swears by it, as does Frank R. here. Frank has also fished the
Little Patuxent. (Hell, Frank has fished damned near every body of
water in the area; why he moved to Nebraska is beyond me. g) Head
south into Virginia, and t you can get smallies on the Rappahannock.

In the spring, say early April to late May, it can be a blast to take a
fly rod up to the lower part of Deer Creek near where it hits the
Susquehanna and fish the shad spawning run. These guys typically run a
pound or two and at the right time & place, you will wear your arm out
catching them. (NB: They are illegal to possess, C&R only.)

Needless to say, you are also mere hours away from some excellent trout
water in south central PA. There's usually a ROFF clave in Coburn, PA
every spring (check other threads) to fish Penns Creek & surrounding
waters. Not my area, I won't offer further advice.

I'll stop with that. Lots of guys here fish all of these places a
lot more often than I do and can fill in the blanks. For the current
conditions on the Gunpowder, the shop in Monkton, Backwater Anglers, is
a decent establishment IMO, though I still lament the disappearance of
Fisherman's Edge.

Joe F.

If you're not married to trout, the upper, free flowing parts of the
Patapsco River have received high praise for bass and trout depending
on where you are. I'm not as familiar with it, but my best fishing
buddy swears by it, as does Frank R. here. Frank has also fished the
Little Patuxent. (Hell, Frank has fished damned near every body of
water in the area; why he moved to Nebraska is beyond me. g)

I'll have you know that there are huge brown trout in the Missouri
River. Unfortunately, they are about 1000 miles upstream. Oh well.
I'll second the comments about MD waters. Go to the fly shop in Bass
Pro and get the book from Larry Coburn (he runs the fly shop) on
Maryland trout. There is a piece on each river that has a naturally
reproducing population. A great book for anyone wanting to fish in
Maryland.
4 wt rods with black wooley buggers make for some real fun fishing on
the Patapsco. The smallies are up to 2lbs and they are a blast.
Enjoy.
Frank Reid

I have no affiliation with this book, but the fellow who runs the fly
shop at the Bass Pro Shop, Outdoor World in Hanover MD has written a
book about the trout streams of Maryland. It's very good. Tells
where, when, and what to fish with. The man's name is Larry Coburn.
He knows Maryland well.


On Jan 12, 1:47 am, "zdank" wrote:
Hello All!

I'm new to the site but wanted to know if anyone out there fishes the
Gunpowder in Maryland. I'm just getting back into this and any info on
good spots, what to use, or technique in general would be greatly
appreciated.

Also interested in trying some of the other local trout streams if you
have any suggestions.

Finally... know any good spots for stream Brookies near Baltimore? Any
of the streams in Northern Baltimore county worth trying?

Thanks

All the information you got here was good. The Gunpowder is the best
in the Baltimore area. If you go stop by Back Water Anglers- a wealth
of information.

I have fished the Elk in MD, PA, as well as the White Clay in PA if
you're willing to drive 90 minutes they are good. Morgan Run is good
if it has water. If you want to fish in western Maryland you can catch
Cutthroat Trout- a real treat for the east coast. Get the book that
Frank referred to. A new edition was released in December 2005.

There are other places too. I recommend that you consider joining
Potomac Patuxent Chapter of TU. We met last night. It was a fly tying
night. The co-author of the book that Frank referred to was there. A
proprietor of Back Water Anglers was there. We have outings like next
month we're going to Big Hunting Creek (the creek of presidents).
It's a great way to see a stream through experienced eyes. Last
November we went to Beaver Creek.
They have interesting speakers too. Next month a member of the MD DNR
is speaking on "Brook Trout in Maryland".

You should be able to find it (and it's message board) by searching
on PPTU.

Hope this helps.

zdank wrote:
Hello All!

I'm new to the site but wanted to know if anyone out there fishes the
Gunpowder in Maryland. I'm just getting back into this and any info on
good spots, what to use, or technique in general would be greatly
appreciated.

Also interested in trying some of the other local trout streams if you
have any suggestions.

Finally... know any good spots for stream Brookies near Baltimore? Any
of the streams in Northern Baltimore county worth trying?

Thanks

On Jan 12, 8:23 am, "Frank Reid" wrote:
(Hell, Frank has fished damned near every body of
water in the area; why he moved to Nebraska is beyond me. g)

I'll have you know that there are huge brown trout in the Missouri
River. Unfortunately, they are about 1000 miles upstream.

Same with the Platte.
I haven't tried it, but I have heard from many sources that there are
"steelhead" in Lake McConaughy's side streams. Also, the Niobrara
supposedly has browns and r-b's almost to the Missouri River near
Yankton SD

cheers

oz, intending to check out Tanneycomo next week