Last Updated: 20 March 2021 20 March 2021

Mothers Day Caddis Outing on Casselman River

Where:  Grantsville, MD, Garret County, Casselman River

When:  April 24, 2021

It's that time again, as in time for the Mothers Day Caddis Outing on the Casselman River in Western 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 with fish smashing them on the water and even leaping clear of the water to take them air borne. See “Guide to Maryland Trout Fishing the Catch and Release Streams” by Gelso and Coburn for more details.

New members and new to fly fishing are welcomed. Let Lou know and we can arrange a place to meet and have on stream instructions and show you the river and where to fish.

I do not have a general meeting place, or time, in the morning, but do text me when you arrive so I know who showed and when you leave. I most likely will be at the Casselman Bridge in early morning (9:00am) and then at The Farmers Lane (very last place before PA) by afternoon. Please take pictures and send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

After the morning hatch and into the afternoon, the flies swarm up and down the river in fast flight, sometimes in a blizzard of flies with eventual egg laying taking place late afternoon/eve. 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 a special regulation Catch and Release Stream between I-68 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 be advised, I have been told, that the Casselman River between the Historic Stone Casselman Bridge (behind Penn Alps) and River Road is now POSTED.

This is not an overnight outing as tradition due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, for those inclined to stay, and in the past most of us have gotten rooms at the Casselman Inn (Motel 301-895-5055) just a mile west of the River on US 40 in Grantsville.  There is also a Comfort Inn on I 68 just east of Grantsville, and of course camping at new Germany or Big Run State parks. It is about a 2.5 h drive from Baltimore, so it is possible to make it a one day trip if so inclined.

Recommended flies are brown/grey/mottled wing dark body Caddis #14/#16 tied in the Henryville, or realistic patterns, for slower water, or dark (black) Elk Hair style or herl and deer hair caddis for the faster riffles. Subsurface flies include herl and partridge soft hackles, Lou’s green and partridge pupa, LaFontain Sparkle Pupa, caddis pupa and larva type nymphs, and gold ribbed hares ears. As I said earlier, it's been a long cold winter so be sure to bring plenty of wooly buggers, green weenies and San Juan worms just in case we're a week or two early/late this year on the hatch. A 4wt or 5wt, 9 ft rod is good. Last year we had some snow so be prepared for cold weather.

As far as meals go it can be a little sparse and may take some planning. I generally bring a lunch and store in cold ice chest in car. There is an Arby's at the Pilot gas station between route 40 & I68 at the east edge of Grantsville, a Subway shop in the Grantsville shopping Center, and the Casselman Inn serves meals. Also, Keyser's Ridge about 8 miles west of Grantsville on US 40 has a truck stop restaurant and a MacDonald's.

To sign up for this outing, please complete the Outing 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. I-68 crosses the river. Take the Grantsville exit #19. Go to the town and turn right onto Rt 40. Continue on Rt 40, will pass Casselman Inn, and onwards it crosses the river. On the left is the Historic Stone Casselman Bridge. There is a parking area there. Continue on Rt 40 to River Road (past Penn Alps) on the left. River Road will cross the river at the Steel Bridge. River Road follows the river northward into PA. Any pull off is great fishing.

Any question please contact Lou Reichel.

Outings Coordinator
Lou Reichel
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
443-745-0313

Last Updated: 09 April 2021 09 April 2021

Savage River, Monroe Pavilion Camp Out, May 31 thru June 6, 2021. Cicada Extravaganza!

The May Outing is the campout to western Maryland for fishing on May 31 thru June 6, 2021, Monday – Sunday (6 nights, 7 days). This is timed to fish the wonderful Savage River and the North Branch in western Maryland streams during the 17-year cicada emergence. The Monroe Pavilion at the Big Run State Park has been reserved by PPTU. This modern shelter is for group camping that allows up to 24 people. We are restricting the number to 15 campers and 2 trailers or RVs at this time. Pre-registration and payment is required no later than May 28 thru PayPal on the PPTU website. The fees are $10/night/person or $55 for the whole week.

Any new participants that plan on camping or meeting us there may contact Lou Reichel for assistance. Also for new members, we can mentor you and show the famous holes where the 18-22” browns and 15" brookies are caught.

The cicadas will only be emerging on the east side of the Eastern Continental Divide; that is, no cicadas will be found at the Youghiogheny, Casselman or other streams of the Ohio River watershed. So Savage River and Big Run State Park are a great place to be. The Monroe shelter has a fire place for great campfires (bring wood from local western MD sources only), picnic tables, and a place to gather after the days fishing to sit in front of campfire and swap stories. This is a dry camp site, has no running water, no fresh water at Big Run SP, so you must bring your own water. The Pavilion has electricity.

For those not interested in camping, there is lodging available in Keyser, WV or Grantsville, MD. In addition, there are cabins in nearby New Germany State Park and cozy rentals at the Savage River Outfitters. The New Germany State Park at least has running water with bathrooms and showers that campers at Monroe Run also can use. Come by and join everyone in the evening for fishing reports around the campfire.

Cooking and sharing of dinners are expected, but plans are not yet firmed up. We will cook on the charcoal grill (charcoal provided with cooking utensils) on that Friday night (not yet finalized), so bring your favorite grilling food. Many people bring extra potato salad or macaroni salad or desserts for all to share. If anyone can provide a special group dinner (chili, stew, pull pork, etc), please let Lou know. So be prepared and bring food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since fishing will be best from dawn to Noon, breakfasts will be rushed and likely every fisher for him/herself. Generally, Lou provides a camp Coleman stove if someone needs something cooked, has coffee in the mornings for all that need it, and extra water. Note - precook potato in microwave oven at home and heat in coals for dinner. There are places to eat near Grantsville, MD and Keyser, WV, as well as a McDonalds in Westernport, MD.

Take into consideration when packing clothes and gear for this is late spring in the mountains. It can get cool at night and be quite warm by afternoon. Tents may be set up in the Pavilion, for protection from rain, but be sure to bring some type of air mattress for the hard stone floor.

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

P.S., We have had men and women, husbands and wives, attend the outing.

Directions to Monroe Pavilion from Baltimore:
Of course there are many different ways to get there. This is my route. Take I70 West. At Hancock interstate I70 splits into I68 and I70. Bear left onto I68. Proceed on I68 through Cumberland, just before Grantsville, take Exit 22, turn south (left) and follow to New Germany Road. Turn left and follow New Germany Road past New Germany State Park and proceed on to Big Run Road (small road, be prepared). Turn left on Big Run Road and proceed to Park entrance. Monroe Pavilion will be on your right, a short distance before road ends, just past the sign for Monroe Run Trail and bathrooms. Afterwards, to get to the Savage River, follow Big Run Rd to Savage River Rd, turn right onto Savage River Rd, and follow to your favorite fishing area on Savage River below the dam.

Items Needed:
Tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, lantern/flashlight, food (breakfast, lunch, grill cookout, dinner), water, and toiletries, basically everything needed to sustain you for the whole period. There are basic bathrooms with no running water. We can use showers at New Germany State Park. I do ask for people to bring store packaged firewood for the campfire (bring wood from local western MD sources only). A 4 to 5 wt, 9 ft fly rod is good. For the small brookie streams a 3 wt, short 6-7 ft rod works great.

Flies:
If fishing the lower Savage and North Branch, bring only a pile of cicada fly imitations and 3X tippet material!

If fishing for the wild brookies in the upper Savage watershed: Flies that have worked for me are Caddis, Mayflies, Midges, Griffiths gnat, BWO's, Adams Parachutes, Blue Quill, Slate Drake, Simple 3-Hackle, Wet flies, all sorts of nymphs, wooly buggers and streamer. Heck, just bring everything!

Thanks. See you there!

Lou Reichel
Outings Coordinator
443-745-0313 (cell)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.