GENERAL INFO
WATER FLOW CONDITIONS
The US Geological Survey posts the current flow info for some 3,000 hydrologic stations around the country on their website: USGS Real-Time Water Data
The main start point for Maryland waters is here: Real-Time Data for Maryland. Click on "Statewide Streamflow table" to access a list of stations by watershed. We have listed a few of the more popular trout fishing streams and links to their topographic maps and gauging stations below.
PHONE NUMBERS
There are several phone numbers that provide information that could be of some use to trout fishers. All involve releases/water conditions at some important streams.
Gunpowder 410-329-6821
Deep Cr. Lake 315-413-2823
N Br. & Savage 410-962-7687
The Gunpowder number is Backwater Angler next to the stream, run and operated by Theaux LeGardeur; either a person will answer or, after hours, the tape will tell what's going on the stream right then. The Deep Creek Lake power plant release is what flows into the Youghiogheny at Hoyes Run near McHenry; the clear water of the release usually adds 3-10 inches to the flow of the river. The Corps of Engineers tape (phone #3 above) for the North Branch and Savage is updated periodically, as flows change and upcoming events approach; also go to this link for expected releases: JR & Savage dams projected releases. Good wade fishing flows for the former are in the range of 150-250 cfs, the latter 75-110 cfs; dangerous/unwadeable flows are >350 cfs and >150 cfs, respectively. Best floating levels for fishers on the N. Branch from Barnum to Bloomington are about 250 - 400 cfs; below Westernport they are 300 - 500 cfs.
POACHERS
The chapter has some business-sized cards that carry the two toll-free phone numbers for reporting poachers in Maryland 24 hours a day. Be sure to pick up a card at the monthly meetings or your nearby tackle shop to carry in your wallet. Both numbers now ring in the same room for the MD DNR Natural resource Police. Remember, there may not be an immediate response to your call, but it is logged. Patrols are based in part upon reports of poaching activity in a given area. When the reports start accumulating, then more patrols and better response times might be expected. The DNR Police number is 800-635-6124 and the State Parks number is 800-825-7275. Try to get license plate number and description of the individual(s) involved.
PATUXENT WATER TEMPS
Until recently, the U.S. Geological Survey gauging station below Brighton Dam on the Patuxent did not have a river water temperature sensor and the USGS was unable to add one because of funding restrictions. Recognizing the value of such information for this upcoming fishery, members of PPCTU approached the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and asked if we could assist in the provision of this service. The Trout Unlimited Mid-Atlantic Council (MAC) agreed to share the cost of the addition.
SAVAGE RIVER
Trout Unlimited has listed the Savage River in Western Maryland as one of 10 Special Places. For more details, go to https://www.tu.org/press-releases/savage-river-watershed-one-of-10-special-places/.
MARYLAND DNR ANGLER ACCESS MAP
Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources hosts an interactive Angler Access Map on which you can locate publicly accessible fishing spots, stocked areas, and managed trout areas. Click on the "Map Layers" option on the left and select the options you wish displayed. Once the map is populated, you click on the items/points displayed for additional information. (Note: this site may intermittently be unavailable.)
STREAM CONDITIONS
Here are the maps and current water and fishing conditions of some favorite Maryland trout streams. The MyTOPO Topographic Map links no longer work. If we find an alternative access to Topographic Maps, we will replace these links. Until then, the links are still there because they contain latitude & longitude coordinates. Anglers are also referred to the Gelso-Coburn Guide to Maryland Trout Fishing (2014, 3rd edition) for other maps and information.
Upper Patuxent River Special Area
In addition to the MyTOPO and PDF maps, there are three photos of Upper Patuxent Trail Maps. If you have a smartphone you can upload the Trail Map (UprPaxTrailMap.3.jpg) onto your smartphone, then you will have it with you as you wander around the Upper Patuxent. You can then just call it up and zoom into the area you are hiking and fishing. If you do not have a smartphone or do not carry it with you, there are two smaller maps of portions of the first. One is "3S" from Hipsley Mill to Howard Chapel. The other is labeled version "3N" and covers from Hipsley Mill upstream to Long Corner. You might print them out as 2-sided and slip the sheet in a large ziplock to carry in your vest. Hopefully with the trail maps you will not get lost in the Upper Patuxent!
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- PDF map of Upper Patuxent Catch and Release Area
- Trail Map of Upper Patuxent (UprPaxTrailMap.3.jpg)
- Trail Map of Hipsley Mill to Howard Chapel (UprPaxTrailMap.3S.jpg)
- Trail Map of Hipsley Mill upstream to Long Corner (UprPaxTrailMap.3N.jpg)
- Real-Time Stream Data: Patuxent River @ Rt 97
Patuxent River below Brighton Dam (Flies Only)
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Satellite View of Catch and Release Area
- PDF map of Catch and Release Area
- Real Time Stream Data: Patuxent River below Brighton Dam
Middle Patuxent River (Delayed Harvest)
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data Unavailable
Little/Middle Patuxent River at Savage, MD
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-time Stream Data: Little Patuxent River at Savage, MD
Paint Branch
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data Unavailable
Northwest Branch
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data Unavailable
Patapsco River
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data Unavailable (Gage sta. closed 2004)
South Branch Patapsco River (Delayed Harvest)
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data Unavailable
Morgan Run
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data Morgan Run at London Bridge Road
Gunpowder River
- MyTOPO Topographic Map- Pretty Boy to Bluemont
- MyTOPO Topographic Map- Bluemont to Glencoe
- PDF Trail Map of Gunpowder Falls State Park
- Real-Time Stream Data: Gunpowder Falls @ Falls Rd below Prettyboy Dam
- Gunpowder Falls below Monkton, MD
- Current Conditions on Gunpowder, courtesy Backwater Angler
Big Hunting Creek
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data (temperature only): Big Hunting Creek
Catoctin/Little Catoctin Creek within Doubs Meadow Park (Delayed Harvest)
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data Catoctin Creek near Middletown
Catoctin Creek within Catoctin Creek Park (Delayed Harvest)
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data Catoctin Creek near Middletown
Beaver Creek
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data Unavailable
Town Creek
- MyTOPO Topographic Map - Upper Delayed Harvest Area
- MyTOPO Topographic Map - Lower Delayed Harvest Area
- Real-Time Stream Data: Town Creek near Oldtown, MD
Savage River
- MyTOPO Topographic Map - lower Savage below dam
- MyTOPO Topographic Map - upper Savage: Big Run to Poplar Lick
- MyTOPO Topographic Map - upper Savage: Poplar Lick to Little Savage
- Real-Time Stream Data: Savage R. below Savage dam (incl. temp.)
- Savage Dam-Pool, inflow, outflow
- upper Savage flows
- Stream report, courtesy Savage River Outfitters
North Branch Potomac
North Branch Potomac - Barnum-Westernport
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data: N Branch @ Barnum, WV (incl. temp.)
- JR Dam-Pool, inflow, outflow.
North Branch Potomac - Westernport-Keyser
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data: Luke, MD (below confluence of N Branch & Savage, incl. temp.)
- N Branch @ Pinto, MD (incl. temp.)
North Branch Potomac - Keyser-Black Oak
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data: Luke, MD (below confluence of N Branch & Savage, incl. temp.)
North Branch Potomac - Black Oak-Pinto
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data: N Branch @ Pinto, MD (incl. temp.)
Casselman River
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data: Casselman R at Grantsville, MD
Youghiogheny (Yough) River Special Area
- MyTOPO Topographic Map
- Real-Time Stream Data: Yough at Friendsville, MD