Mothers Day Caddis on Casselman River

When:  Saturday April 25, 9:00 AM to Sunday April 26, 5:00 PM.
Where:  Casselman River, Near Grantsville, MD.

It's time for the Mother’s Day Caddis Outing on the Casselman River near Grantsville in Garret County, Maryland. If the weather is right, maybe we will get lucky this year, and the hatch will be 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. 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. The river is mostly open, easy for casting.

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 to 2 ½ hour drive from Baltimore. Let us know, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you plan on one or two days. For people staying overnight on Saturday, you can make reservations at the Casselman Inn, 113 Main St, Grantsville, MD 21536, (301) 895-5055), located just one mile west of the Casselman River on US 40 in Grantsville. Another place to stay is at the Comfort Inn, 2541 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Grantsville, MD, 21536, (301) 895-5993, just east of Grantsville. So please call the Inn and make your own reservations. We plan to meet for a nice group dinner at the Casselman Inn restaurant on Saturday night. Let me know if you plan on attending so I can make the arrangements for a table

On Saturday morning at 9:00, we will meet at the lower parking area of Penn Alps because the State Park is still closed for bridge construction (see the Casselman-Meeting-Map). Why so early? The Casselman can get crowded, and all the pull-offs can be full. If you are coming late, let me know by text or email so that I can keep track of people.

Directions: Getting there is about a 2 ½ hour drive from Silver Spring. Take Rt 270 to Frederick, then head west on I-70. At Hancock MD take the I-68 split and proceed west past Frostburg. When you reach Grantsville MD on I-68, take Exit #19. Go right to Grantsville and turn right onto Main Street (Rt 40). Continue on Main Street (Rt 40), you will go past the Casselman Inn and just after you cross the Casselman River take the first left at Penn Alps. Go thru the parking lot, then take the next left on Casselman Road and then a quick right into the parking lot where we will meet.

Meeting Area: We will meet in the overflow parking lot at Penn Alps on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. The address is 180 Casselman Road, Grantsville, MD 21536. It is located off Rt 40 near the Casselman River and the State Park.

Food: For lunch, bring your own and store it in a cold ice chest in your car or visit one of the fast-food options listed below. Most of the fast-food places are at the Rt 219 exit (Chestnut Ridge Road) off I-68. Later Saturday, we plan on having a nice group dinner at the Casselman Inn restaurant on Saturday night at 7:00 (you are responsible for the cost of your dinner). Let me know if you plan on attending dinner so I can make the arrangements for a table. The Casselman Inn does not serve food on Sunday, so bring lunch for Sunday, or you can again go to one of the local fast-food places.

Local Fast-Food

• Big Dog’s Deli, 3223 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Grantsville, MD 21536
• Burger King, 2811 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Grantsville, MD 21536
• IHOP, 2815 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Grantsville, MD 21536
• Subway Sandwich Shop, 26 S Yoder St, Grantsville, MD 21536

Fly Fishing Guide to the Casselman River:

1. This is a special regulation Catch and Release Stream between I-68 north and downstream to the PA border, a MD fishing license and trout stamp are required. See the Casselman Access Map for the many access points along the river. 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.
2. You can fish from I-68 to the historic Casselman Stone Bridge. To fish this section, go past the Casselman River State Park on Rt 40 and across the river. There will be a road on the right named Trout Run Road (across from Penn Alps). It is a short road with an angler parking lot at the end. There is a nice pool under the I-68 Bridge (provides good cover if it rains).
3. For the Penn Alps area, park in the overflow parking lot, the historic Stone Bridge is posted No Fishing Due to Construction (don’t fish under the bridge). Fishing is allowed downstream from the Stone Bridge continuing around to the Penn Alps area (not sure of the area below this, it may be private).
4. To fish the River Road access, continue down Rt 40 (past Penn Alps) to River Road on the left. River Road will cross the river at the Metal Bridge. Then travel down to River Road and fish at any of the pull-offs all the way to the PA line. There is good fishing at the metal bridge. Also on River Road, at the Metal Bridge, just upstream, there are some cabins for rent, and I am not sure if it is private fishing there. River Road follows the river northward into PA. Any pull off is great fishing.
5. 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. For those not familiar with the Casselman River, Lou 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.
6. Rods: 4 or 5wt, 9 ft rods are a good choice.
7. 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 hare’s ears. Of course, don’t forget mop flies and San Juan worms.

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

During the outing, please take pictures of fish caught, chapter members, the stream, nature, etc. and send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Also let me know how many fish you caught, what flies you used, and any interesting happenings, for the outing report.

As with all our outings, we welcome new members and those new to fly fishing to come and join us. We also encourage everyone to bring their friends and family members. There will be seasoned fly anglers on hand to happily offer assistance to any new members. 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).

To Sign-up for the Outing: Please fill out the Registration/Liability form for the Outing. Go to the PPTU website at https://pptu.org/events/outingregistration and select Casselman River.

Hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please contact Ron K.

Ron Kerrick/Lou Reichel (Outing Coordinators)
(240) 423-8375
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