Mothers Day Caddis on Casselman River

Where:  Casselman River, Near Grantsville, Garret County, MD
When:  April 27-28, 2024, Saturday and Sunday. 9:00 am

It's that time again for the Mother’s Day Caddis Outing on the Casselman River near Grantsville in Garret County, Maryland. If the weather is right and the hatch is on, there should be an intense emergence of #14/16 mottled brown/grey wing, dark body American Grannon (genus Brachycentrus) Caddis flies from early to late afternoon.

New members and new to fly fishing are welcomed. There will be someone there that can assist you and show you the river. Please let Ron know if you need assistance.

For more details on the river, and a map of access points, can be found in the excellent book “Guide To Maryland Trout Fishing. The Catch - And – Release Streams” written by Charlie Gelso and Larry Coburn, fellow PPTU Chapter members.

During the hatch, the caddis flies swarm up and down the river in fast flight, sometimes in a blizzard of flies with eventual egg laying taking place late afternoon and evening. Even during this swarming period there can be a mid day lull in surface activity and a good time to switch to subsurface flies. This is one of the best spring hatches in Maryland and the classic dry fly experience.

This is scheduled as a 2 day outing, but it is possible to make it a one day trip, for the Casselman River is about a 2-2.5 h drive from Baltimore.  Let Ron know,  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,  if you plan on one or two days.  For staying overnight on Saturday, make reservations at the Casselman Inn (Motel 301-895-5055), just a mile west of the Casselman River on US 40 in Grantsville. So please make your reservations. We will plan on a nice group dinner at the Casselman Inn restaurant on Saturday night, so let me know if you plan on attending so I can make arrangements for a large table. Other places to stay are at a Comfort Inn on I 68, Rt 219 Chestnut Ridge Rd, just east of Grantsville.

On Saturday morning at 9:00, we will meet at the lower parking area of Penn Alps.  Why so early?  The Casselman can get crowded, and all the pull-offs can be full.  If you are late, let Ron know by text or email so that he can keep track of people.

One can fish from I-68 to the Casselman Stone Bridge (may be posted No Fishing Due to Construction), continuing around to the Penn Alps area where we will meet (not sure of the area below this, it may be private). Then travel down to River Road (see Directions below) and fish at any of the pull-offs all the way to the PA line. Those not familiar with the Casselman River, I will eventually be at The Farmers Lane (very last place before PA State line) by late afternoon.  This is a good place to meet if you are lost and near the end of the day.  Be considerate with the Amish horse and buggies and Amish children walking on the road.  Again, for those not meeting with me, please email or text me when you arrive and when you leave so I can keep track of all members.  Also take pictures and send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This is a special regulation Catch and Release Stream between I-68 north (downstream) to the PA border. MD fishing license and trout stamp are required. The Casselman River runs north into PA, so if you don't have a PA Fishing License take care you don't accidentally fish water you are not licensed for.  Also on River Rd, at the metal bridge, just upstream, there are some cabins for rent, and I am not sure if it is private fishing there. However, good fishing at the metal bridge.

Recommended flies.  Brown/grey/mottled wing dark body Caddis #14/#16 tied in either the Henryville realistic patterns, for slower water, or dark (black) Elk Hair style or peacock caddis for the faster riffles. Subsurface flies include herl and partridge and green butt soft hackles, Bird of Prey pupa, LaFontain Sparkle Pupa, other caddis pupa and larva type nymphs, and gold ribbed hares ears. Of course, don’ forget mop flies and San Juan worms.

Rods.  A 4wt or 5wt, 9 ft rod is good.

Clothing. We have had snow in the past on this outing, so wear layers and be prepared.

Food. As far as meals go it can be a little sparse and may take some planning. I generally bring lunch for Saturday and Sunday and store it in a cold ice chest in the car.  We will plan on a nice group dinner at the Casselman Inn restaurant on Saturday night, so let me know if you plan on attending so I can make the reservation.  The Casselman Inn does not serve food on Sunday.  Most of the fast-food places are at the Rt 219 exit (Chestnut Ridge Road).  There is a nice Burger King and IHOP near the gas station near I-68.  There also is a Subway shop in the Grantsville shopping Center on the north side of Chestnut Ridge Road and Rt 40. 

To sign up for this outing, please complete the Outings Registration form.

Driving Instructions.  Getting there is pretty easy, about a 2.5 h drive from Baltimore.  Head west on I-70, take the I-68 split at Hancock MD and proceed west to Grantsville MD.  On I-68, take the Grantsville exit #19.  Go to the town and turn right onto Rt 40.  Continuing on Rt 40, you will go past the Casselman Inn and just after you cross the Casselman River take the first left at Penn Alps.  Then take the next left on Casselman Road and then a quick right into the parking lot where we will meet (130 Casselman Road).  To fish the River Road access, continue on Rt 40 (past Penn Alps) to River Road on the left. River Road will cross the river at the Metal Bridge.  River Road follows the river northward into PA.  Any pull off is great fishing.  The last place before the PA line is Farmers Lane (2960-2965 River Rd, Grantsville).  Park off the road at the signs and not on the farmer’s driveway!  Also be considerate of the Amish horse and buggies and Amish children walking on the road.

If you have any questions, please contact Ron Kerrick.

Outings Coordinator
Ron Kerrick
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(240) 423-8375

Sulphur hatch on Spring Creek, Bellefonte, PA.

May 24-26, 2024. Friday – Sunday (3 days, 2 nights)

Where: Spring Creek, Bellefonte, PA. Meet at Fisherman’s Paradise at 5:00 pm on Friday.

Spring Creek, as the name suggests, is a well-known spring creek in central PA between State College (Penn State campus is there) and Bellefonte, PA.  The creek is considered the best limestone creek in PA. and is also a destination creek for many fly fishermen from all over.   Spring Creek has been fished by well-known fly fishermen like George Harvey, Joe Humphreys and George Daniel.  One section of the creek is called Fisherman’s Paradise, a special regulated area that is a Catch and Release and Fly Fishing Only section where we will start.  We will fish the prolific Sulphur Mayfly hatch, (Ephemerella invaria and Ephemerella dorothea) and Blue Wing Olive (BWO), mainly fishing for brown trout.  

This is a 3 day and 2-night trip.  It’s about a 3-hour trip from Baltimore to State College/Bellefonte, PA, so it’s difficult to make this a one-day trip. We also want to fish the spinner fall from dusk to evening (7:30-9 pm), so meet at the Fisherman’s Paradise by 5:00 pm on Friday. Of course, you can arrive earlier to fish, but meet later at the parking lot.  At the end, meet back at the parking lot by 9:00 pm.  Then we will find a late-night restaurant (>10 pm) for dinner in the State College area.  If anybody knows this area, suggestions are welcomed!

If you cannot make it on Friday, definitely come on Saturday (2 days, 1 night).  Let me know so we can make plans where to meet on Saturday.

I suggest staying at the Econo Lodge (about $73-79 per night) at 3482 Benner Pike, Bellefonte, PA.  This Hotel is close to the creek, outside of State College, and not too expensive.  You may also find many motels/hotels in State College, but they are somewhat expensive. There is a KOA campground in Bellefonte PA, which do have some small, rugged cabins.  So, start making your plans and reservations now and finding your roommate if desired.  Other suggestions are the Sleep Inn on 111 Village Drive, or the Best Western Plus on 115 Premiere Drive.

In addition, you can stop at the TCO Fly Shop, PA 26 N/E College Ave, State College, on the way to Spring Creek for info and to spend money on extra flies.  Another fly shop is Flyfisher’s Paradise Fly shop which is not far from TCO.  I am not familiar with it since it always seems to be closed on Friday and Saturday.

This central part of PA has many other trout streams in the area.  Within an hour drive, one can fish Penns Creek (famous for March Brown and Green Drake hatches), Little Juniata and Spruce Creek which are all good trout fishing streams.  So, this is an area you should become familiar with.

As mentioned earlier, we will initially fish in a section known as Fisherman’s Paradise.  This is a special regulated section that is a Catch and Release Area and Fly Fishing Only.  At the parking lot, the stream is a No Wading area and does hold a fair number of trout.  Just a little upstream, there is a sign where wading starts and is allowed.  A good wide path follows the creek.  At some places the wide path ventures away from the creek, but you can follow a narrower path near the creek.  The farthest I have gone is at least a mile up the path, past the Gun Firing Range (pop, zip, duck), to a foot bridge that crosses the creek. One can cross the bridge which gives better access to the creek. 

After fishing in the Fisherman’s Paradise section on Friday, we can fish the other sections of the creek on Saturday and Sunday, but still target the evening spinner hatch.  One suggestion is at Benner Spring Fish Hatchery off Shiloh Road.  A large parking lot is on the north side of creek.  Most fishing during the day can be tough, since most of the trout are waiting for the sulfur spinner fall in the evening.  So we don’t have to start fishing too early.  But I have seen hatches during the afternoon with rising brown trout.

We can drive up in a car caravan in the early afternoon on Friday.  I will be leaving Baltimore by 11 am since I want to stop at the TCO fly shop.  Let me know if you want to follow me so we can make plans. Most likely, we will meet at the Park and Ride on Middletown Rd off I-83.   

To sign up for this outing, please complete the Outings Registration form.

Required:  a PA fishing license and Trout Stamp.
 
Flies:  Sulfur dry dun (#14-#16), BWO dun, parachutes, emergers, spinners (rusty spinner), nymphs, soft hackles including partridge and orange, hares ear nymph, and pheasant tail nymph.  This is a spring creek so don’t forget scuds and cress bugs.  Also, there can be a good hatch of hydropsyche caddis #16 (tan and olive).

Rods:  4 and/or 5 wt, 9 ft rods should be good.

Bring a light - head lamp, for nighttime. 

Directions:  Take I-83 N to York and Harrisburg PA.  At Harrisburg stay on I-83 N/E around Harrisburg. Take exit 51A to I-81 S/US 322 W to Carlisle/Lewiston.  Take exit 67B to US 22 W/US 322 W to Lewiston. Continue on US 322 W to State College.  At State College take the exit for PA 26 N/E College Ave.  Will find TCO Fly Shop, merge left onto Rt 150 (Benner Pike).  Will find Brothers Pizza.  Follow Rt 150, go under I-99, shortly afterwards at the light turn left onto Paradise Hill Rd.  At the end of the road, turn left onto Spring Creek Rd to the Fisherman’s Paradise parking area.

If you have any questions, please contact Ron Kerrick.

Also, take pictures and send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Interim Outings Coordinator
Ron Kerrick
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(240) 423-8375