Contact Fisheries
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Alan Klotz, Fisheries Biologist - Total Reports: 48
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Posted on August 5, 2011 | Permalink
Stocking Rainbow Trout
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: North Branch - Potomac
We assisted the West Virginia DNR with stocking 509 trophy sized rainbow (415) and golden trout (94) into the North Branch Potomac River downstream of Jennings Randolph Lake today: About 255 rainbows were stocked in the Barnum to Bluehole Put and Take Area; 100 rainbows were stocked in the Lower C&R section (downstream of Bluehole) and 60 rainbows were stocked in the upper C&R and the goldens were divided up between these areas as well. These trout averaged about 3 lbs each, and should spark a lot of angler interest.
Posted on July 18, 2011 | Permalink
North Branch Potomac River and Youghiogheny River C&R Rainbows
Type: Freshwater
Region:
Location: North Branch Potomac River
My son Kyle and I fished the upper Catch and Release Trout Fishing Area of the North Branch Potomac River just downstream of the Jennings Randolph Lake Dam last weekend. We targeted the upper boundary stretch that was opened for anglers just this year; it includes a rather large deep pool and some pocket water. It was a bright sunny day, and not a lot of insect hatches happening, but I managed to land a rainbow and a brown on Stimulators. Kyle did better on his spinning tackle with three rainbows and a brown trout all about a foot long. We did see a lot of fingerling brown trout from a stocking earlier in the summer, as well as a few wild young of year rainbows. Later that evening we hiked down into the remote part of the Yough C&R Area, and again not much happening with the insect hatches, but landed 4 nice rainbows on Elk-hair caddis. I switched to a bead-head caddis larva pattern and proceeded to catch river chub after river chub, some approaching eight inches long. The fishing experience was made even better by seeing a fisher (member of the weasel family) feeding along the river, an immature bald eagle, and a very curious beaver kit that would swim right up to us.
Posted on July 7, 2011 | Permalink
North Branch Potomac River Zero Creel Limit Trout Fishing Area
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: North Branch Potomac River
The Western Region Inland Fisheries crew recently surveyed the North Branch Potomac River Zero Creel Limit Trout Fishing Area from Westernport to Pinto, MD about an 18-mile stretch of the river. We collected some outstanding brown trout specimens greater than 20 inches, as well as gorgeous rainbow trout up to 15 inches. The best stretch of the river in terms of trout numbers is in the upper section from Westernport to McCoole. There are public access areas for boaters and anglers at the mouth of Georges Creek at Westernport, DNR-owned access at McCoole along Rt. 135, and DNR-owned access along Rt. 220 at the Gary Yoder Fisheries Management Area near Black Oak.
Posted on June 23, 2011 | Permalink
Savage River Trophy Trout Fishing Area
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Savage River
I fished the Savage River Trophy Trout Area this week and now is a great time to fish this river. I started off fishing a green-bodied caddis with a black stonefly dropper and landed a couple of gorgeous brown trout, one brook trout, and one rainbow. At dusk, the trout started rising steadily - I tied on a yellow Stimulator and caught another eight rainbow trout before dark. Tan caddis, lime-colored stoneflies, and a few pale-colored mayflies were hatching in the late evening.
Posted on June 20, 2011 | Permalink
Western Maryland Fishing Vacation
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Youghiogheny River
After a long year of school, my son Kyle and his friend Zach and I took a week to fish Western Maryland. Our first stop was the Youghiogheny River, where we caught several rainbow trout, including a hefty 14-incher that took a black zonker streamer. Then on to Broadford Lake for some bluegill action and we were not disappointed as we caught a lot of bluegills and pumpkinseeds, and enjoyed a delicious fish fry that evening. We enjoyed a day of brook trout fishing in the Savage River Watershed. We travelled to the Battie Mixon Fishing Hole where the boys caught several hybrid sunfish and largemouth bass, but really enjoyed seeing several species of turtles. We finished up the week on Deep Creek Lake where the guys reeled in some very large bluegills, along with yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and rock bass. Time well spent!
Posted on June 10, 2011 | Permalink
Yough River Catch & Release Trout Fishing Area
Type: Freshwater
Region:
Location: Youghiogheny River
I fished the Youghiogheny River Catch and Return Trout Fishing Area for the first time earlier this week the river experience high flows for most of the spring. I fished the lower section near Sang Run where I shared a nice spot with a rather large tail-slapping beaver. The trout didnt seem to mind as I landed one brown and three rainbows, the largest a 16-inch fish that made my reel scream on three runs! I fished the Hoyes Area the next evening, and found plenty of other flyfishers already there, but I experienced a great evening of fishing, landing 16 browns and rainbows, all between 8 and 11 inches. The best action was right at dusk until it was too dark to see my presentation a good spinner fall of March Browns took place as well as a good hatch of lime sallies. All trout were caught on a #14 green-bodied elk-hair caddis.
Posted on June 8, 2011 | Permalink
Potomac River Smallmouth Bass
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Potomac River
John Mullican invited my family to fish the Potomac River in Washington County this past weekend and we gladly accepted. John took us to some smallmouth bass hotspots and we had good action using Ό-ounce tubes and stick-baits. Jessica enjoyed reeling in each fish that John hooked. My son Kyle even caught a few redbreast sunfish a species we dont see too often in our home waters in Garrett County.
Posted on May 26, 2011 | Permalink
Deep Creek Lake Smallmouth Bass and Rock Bass
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Deep Creek Lake
Now is primetime for catch and release fishing for Smallmouth Bass in Deep Creek Lake try fishing topwater lures, plastic tubes (fished weightless), or streamers along boulder-strewn shorelines for the best action. Rock bass also known as Red-eyes are also very aggressive this time of year, and you will catch them in the same rocky habitat. I had a blast last evening fly-fishing with this wool-bodied streamer and caught several scrappy Smallmouths in the 10 12 inch range and lots of Rock Bass.
Posted on May 18, 2011 | Permalink
Brook trout fishing in the Savage River watershed
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Savage River watershed
John Mullican and I spent an afternoon fishing one of the Savage River tributary streams within the Zero Creel Limit for Brook Trout fishing area. Stream flows were perfect, and some hatch activity soon started including yellow stoneflies, caddis, sulfurs, and March Browns. As usual, John caught more fish than I using a bead-head caddis emerger and a bright caddis dry as the indicator both were effective. I used a bead-head black stonefly which was effective in the deeper pools and runs. Good day of fishing in a spectacular setting.
Posted on May 18, 2011 | Permalink
Broadford Lake Black Crappies
Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Broadford Lake
It is the perfect time to fish Broadford Lake in Garrett County for some exceptional black crappie action. My son Kyle and I fished one evening last week and took home about a ten fish for the fryer. We headed back a couple of days later with fishing partners Mike and Zach Voelkel and had another great day with the crappies, plus a few nice chain pickerel. The fish were in shallow water less than 20 feet from the bank. We used medium-size shiners hooked just under the dorsal fin with a size 8 Eagle Claw and fished two feet under a slip bobber. Broadford Lake is a great place to take kids - the boys did a lot of exploring of the wetlands around the lake and had a good time photographing American toads, pickerel frogs, bull frogs, crayfish, snapping turtles, and a beautiful queen snake.
