| Guided: |
Yes |
Fish Type: |
Trout |
| State: |
MD |
Current Rating: |
Fair |
| County: |
Garrett |
Last Updated: |
Sep 07, 2010 |
| ALL FLOATS ON THE NORTH BRANCH ARE ON HOLD DUE TO LOW WATER!!! We are still doing floats on the Upper Potomac near Sharpsburg MD for Smallmouth and Musky. On the North Branch, fishing is only good in the upper catch and release sections around Barnum WV. But with 125 CFS out of the dam, fishing is tough. Use long leaders, lighter tippets and smaller flies. Attractors with droppers are taking the most fish. Streamers and taking a few here and there but the fish are spooky and are also selectivewith strikes. Longer leaders are a must. Dropping down to 5x tippet will get you more strikes but take your time hooking up larger fish. Don't rush them in. 2010 dates for William are October 2, 3, 31 November 13, 14, 24, 26, 27, 28. Chris's available dates are August 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30, 31. September 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28. October 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 26. November 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. |
| A clean-up and the construction of the Jennings Randolph Dam in the early 1980's has resulted in one of Maryland's and West Virginia's finest trout fisheries. A number of tributaries of the North Branch now have lime-dosing structures to counter acidic water conditions. The North Branch now offers temperature and PH conditions conducive to Browns, Rainbows, Brook and Cutthroat trout. Much of the North Branch is wadeable. It should be fished with chest waders, cleated wading shoes and a wading staff. As with other Garrett County waters, it is important to remember that stream flows are controlled by dam releases, and can change suddenly. Caution and local guide advice are highly recommended to newcomers to the North Branch. |
| Because of its status as a border stream, and its limited accessibility, both Maryland and West Virginia licenses are recognized.
There are two catch and release (artificial flies and lures only) sections of the North Branch. The first is a 3/4-mile catch and release section in Mineral County near Barnum. This upper section begins about 100 yards above concrete bridge pilings, where a wire hanging across the river with a wooden sign marks the actual line. It ends with another wire and wooden sign below the reservoir dam. The second is a 4-mile catch and release section just below Blue Hole and extending downstream to the confluence of Piney Swamp Run. |
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