I’ve updated the resources page to include the Washington DC area. Most notably, the Tidal Potomac Flyrodders, which is a large and growing group devoted to fishing the Potomac River right in DC. I am a member and you should consider joining, too, if you fish anywhere near the DC metro area, Northern Virginia and Maryland. Also, one of the TPFR members recently posted a Google map showing good fishing spots on the Potomac around Fletcher’s Cove.
Monthly Archives: February 2012
18 posts
See when the campgrounds, visitor centers and other facilities are opening this year at Shenandoah National Park.
Note also that there will be some prescribed burns near Big Meadows and at the park headquarters on Rt. 211. This could affect things for you if you’re fishing places such as the upper Hughes River, upper Hazel River, the South Fork of Dry Run, Pass Run, Jeremy’s Run and possibly other places, all depending on the weather conditions. No word on when these burns will occur. Check www.nps.gov/shen or call (540) 999-3500 for more details.
I ran across this blog today, Devin’s Fishing Reports. This guy is 15 years old and he’s out fishing pretty often. His site has lots of good info about trout fishing around Thurmont, Maryland, including Big Hunting Creek and nearby streams. Check it out!
UPDATE: I got this from a comment on Devin’s blog – Frederick County Maryland At-A-Glance is a great resource if you’re planning on bushwhacking around Catoctin Mountain Park, Cunningham Falls State Park or Frederick Municipal Forest for some brook trout. Shows property lines and other information on an interactive map. I’ve updated the Resources link on this site.
A light week for stocked trout in Virginia. With all this great weather there may be more pressure on these streams than normal in February. Still, might be worth checking out Back Creek if you’re up for a drive…
- Bath Co.
- Back Creek (02/23)
- Buchanan Co.
- Russell Fork River (02/23)
- Craig Co.
- Potts Creek (02/22)
- Dickenson Co.
- Frying Pan Creek (02/23)
- Russell Fork River (Haysi) (02/23)
- Frederick Co.
- Clearbrook Lake (02/22)
- Wilkins Lake (02/22)
- Henrico Co.
- Dorey Park Lake (02/23)
- Richmond (City of)
- Shield Lake (02/23)
- Rockingham Co.
- Briery Branch Lake (02/23)
- Dry River (02/22)
- Hone Quarry Lake (02/23)
- Russell Co.
- Big Cedar Creek (2/22)
- Scott Co.
- Bark Camp Lake (02/22)
Words associated with Maryland stocked trout this week: stillwater, rainbows, Prince George’s County… plus the North Branch of the Potomac.
| County | Location | Date | Map |
| Baltimore | Patapsco River @ Avalon – (1000 RB/GN) | Feb 23 | GO > |
| Garrett | North Br. Pototomac River – Kitzmiller – (500 RB/GN) | Feb 23 | GO > |
| Worcester | Shad Landing Pond – (475 RB/GN) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Wicomico/Worcester | Beaverdam Creek – (475 RB/GN) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Howard/Montgomery | Patuxent River – (Catch & Return) – (2000 BR) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Howard | Middle Patuxent River (Delayed Harest) – (500 BR) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Tucker Pond – (375 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Melwood Pond – (400 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Lake Artemesia – (600 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Greenbelt Lake – (550 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Cosca Lake – (700 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Charles | Wheatley Lake – (960 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Charles | Hugesville Pond – (350 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Calvert | Calvert Cliffs – (300 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Washington | Antietam Creek – (500 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
West Virginia stocked trout all over this past week, including the South Branch of the Potomac at Smoke Hole, Elk River, the Greenbrier and Lost River.
February 23, 2012
- Anawalt Lake
- Back Fork of Elk River
- Clear Fork of Guyandotte River
- Desert Fork
- Gandy Creek
- Laurel Fork (Randolph)
- New Creek
- North Fork of Patterson Creek
- Pinnacle Creek (lower section)
- South Branch (Smoke Hole)
- Spruce Knob Lake
- Sugar Creek
- Summit Lake
- Williams River
February 22, 2012
- Anthony Creek
- Beech Fork Tailwaters
- Big Clear Creek
- East Fork Greenbrier River
- East Lynn Tailwaters
- Elk River
- Lick Creek Pond
- Little Clear Creek
- Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
- Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
- Lost River
- Shavers Fork (upper section)
- Trout Run
- Waites Run
- Wallback Lake
- Watoga Lake
- Wayne Dam
- West Fork Greenbrier River
- West Fork Twelvepole
February 21, 2012
- Hills Creek
- Kings Creek
- Knapps Creek
- South Branch (Franklin)
- Tomlinson Run
- Tomlinson Run Lake
February 17, 2012
- Berwind Lake
- Buffalo Creek (Logan)
- Clover Run
- Dry Fork (McDowell)
- Fall Run
- French Creek Pond
- Indian Rocks Lake
- Laurel Fork of Holly River
- Left Fork of Holly River
- Middle Wheeling Creek (delayed harvest)
- Newburg Lake
- Summersville Tailwaters
On this Presidents Day holiday I tripped over this article about Trout Run, a property in the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland that is now for sale, $9 million asking price. This former presidential retreat and highfalutin “rustic hideaway” is very close to Camp David and was actually preferred by a few of our presidents due to its proximity to Little Hunting Creek.
Herbert Hoover, though he is known to have spent more time fishing at his camp on the Rapidan River in what is now Shenandoah National Park, was the first president to spend time here. Following him were Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower (although he reportedly preferred watercolor painting there more than fishing). Hoover, though, was the only real presidential fly fisherman to have visited:
He reported — “with a slight egotism!” — that only he, Teddy Roosevelt and Grover Cleveland “had been lifelong fly-fishermen before they went to the White House.”
I literally stumbled onto Trout Run last year on one of my Catoctin National Park area fishing explorations. I inadvertently followed Little Hunting Creek upstream until I was on the Trout Run property line, complete with a chain across the stream and a sign warning against further intrusion. I can tell you that even though I caught nothing there that day it’s a beautiful place. Is it worth the price? I have no idea, and fortunately that’s not relevant for a man of my means. But you — you may be more interested. Click on the first link above for more info…
Big big BIG week for trout stocking here in Virginia. Bullpasture, Jackson, Big Stony Creek, Passage Creek, Whitetop Laurel, North River… gives me goose bumps.
- Albemarle Co.
- Mint Springs Lake (Upper) (02/14)
- Mint Springs Lake (Middle) (02/14)
- Amherst Co.
- Pedlar River (Below dam) (Delayed Harvest) (02/15)
- Augusta Co.
- North River (Gorge) (02/14)
- North River (Natural Chimneys) (02/14)
- Bath Co.
- Bullpasture River (02/13)
- Jackson River (Rte. 623) (02/15)
- Chesapeake (City of)
- Northwest River Park (02/16)
- Craig Co.
- Barbours Creek (02/16)
- Frederick Co.
- Paddy Run (02/14)
- Giles Co.
- Dismal Creek (02/15)
- Henry Co.
- Smith River (Dam) (02/14)
- Highland Co.
- Bullpasture River (02/13)
- Lee Co.
- Martins Creek (02/16)
- North Fork Powell River (02/16)
- Newport News (City of)
- Lake Biggins (02/16)
- Patrick Co.
- Dan River (Above Talbott)
- Round Meadow Creek (02/16)
- Roanoke Co.
- Roanoke River (City) (02/13)
- Scott Co.
- Big Stony Creek (02/15)
- Little Stony Creek (02/15)
- Stock Creek (02/16)
- Shenandoah Co.
- Passage Creek (02/15)
- Washington Co.
- Whitetop Laurel (Upper) (02/14)
- Whitetop Laurel (Lower) (02/14)
- Tennessee Laurel (02/14)
- Wise Co.
- South Fork Powell River (02/16)
Just a few newly stocked trout streams in Maryland this past week…
| County | Location | Date | Map |
| Montgomery | Lake Needwood – (725 RB/GN) | Feb 16 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Allens Pond – (750 RB/GN) | Feb 16 | GO > |
| Caroline | Tuckohoe Creek – (1450 RB/GN) | Feb 16 | GO > |
| Washington | Beaver Creek – (500 RB/GN) | Feb 14 | GO > |
| Howard | Middle Patuxent River (Delayed Harest) – (500 RB/GN) | Feb 14 | GO > |
| Howard/Montgomery | Patuxent River (Catch & Return) – (1000 RB) | Feb 14 | GO > |
More stocked trout swimming happily in West Virginia, as usual, including the Elk River (via the Orvis Fishing Reports site) and a whole bunch of other places I’ve never fished.
February 16, 2012
- Big Sandy Creek
- Cherry River
- Conaway Run Lake
- Coopers Rock Lake
- Little Kanawha Headwaters
- Middle Fork River
- North Fork of Cherry River
- North Fork of Fishing Creek
- Rhine Creek
- Right Fork of Little Kanawha
- South Fork of Fishing Creek
- Wolf Creek
February 15, 2012
- Indian Creek
- Meadow Creek of New River
- Milligan Creek
- Potts Creek
- Rich Creek (Monroe)
- South Fork Potts Creek
- Tygart Headwaters
February 14, 2012
- Dunkard Fork Lake
- Horseshoe Run
- Jimmy Lewis Lake
- Pipestem Lake
- Rockhouse Lake
- Spruce Laurel Fork
- Tygart Tailwaters
February 13, 2012
- Curtisville Lake
- Deer Creek (Nicholas)
- Laurel Creek of Cherry River
February 10, 2011
- Camp Creek
- Dog Run Lake
- East River
- Elk River
- Long Marsh Run
- Mash Fork
- Mill Run of Back Creek
- New Creek
- North Fork of Lunice Creek
- North Fork of Patterson Creek
- Poorhouse Pond
- Summit Lake
- Tilhance Creek
- Tuscarora Creek
- Watoga Lake