New water

[ryansheehan]

So I'm headed to western Maryland for a fishing trip, we will be staying at deep creek lake. I've rarely fished in West Virginia except for the north branch border water. I'm thinking about heading over to the elk which appears to be about 2 hours away from our place. Does anyone have any info on it or how it fishes in the winter. I went to the elk springs resort page and saw they post a daily pic of the river conditions.

Doing some research I feel like all the other rivers in a 2 1/2 hour range from DCL are mostly stocked fish. If anyone has any advise on any other streams or the Elk I would greatly appreciate it. Happy to have it in a PM if it's info you don't want posted. Thanks in advance.

 

[CinnamonJoe]

I hesitate to offer too much, simply because my most recent experiences in Garret Co MD are over 25 yrs old. That said, I have heard on good 1st hand recent advice/read that the MD DNR has done a lot of work to protect and promote native brook trout in a number of Garrett Co streams. There are videos on youtube within the last few years featuring some of these streams, if you look. The stuff I am talking about here is mostly in the Savage river drainage: Big Run, Monroe Run, Savage River.

I have no idea how they fish currently, but recall some good days on those streams in the past.

 

[sarce]

I haven't fished it but I've heard good things about dry fork near Job/Whitmer. Maybe a little shorter of a drive. No clue how it fishes in winter. Almost fished it one day a few years ago but it got blown out by storms the night before. I think it's mostly holdover browns rather than true wilds. At least worth looking into.

 

[JimKennedy]

North Branch of the Potomac and Savage River both have outstanding wild trout populations. North Branch Potomac, a cold water release from Jennings Randolph Lake, is also stocked. It's probably Maryland's best stream.

I've got no idea how it fishes in wintertime, but it's big water, so don't go alone.

Savage is also a cold water release from Savage River Reservoir to the Potomac with wild browns and brooks. Not as big as the Potomac, but is a fairly substantial stream. Again, no clue about winter fishing, but it's a first rate fishery.

 

[keirns4]

I hesitate to offer too much, simply because my most recent experiences in Garret Co MD are over 25 yrs old. That said, I have heard on good 1st hand recent advice/read that the MD DNR has done a lot of work to protect and promote native brook trout in a number of Garrett Co streams. There are videos on youtube within the last few years featuring some of these streams, if you look. The stuff I am talking about here is mostly in the Savage river drainage: Big Run, Monroe Run, Savage River.

I have no idea how they fish currently, but recall some good days on those streams in the past.

Hmmmm, a State that does work to protect brookies. Who would have thought that?

 

[JimKennedy]

Hmmmm, a State that does work to protect brookies. Who would have thought that?

Maryland has a limited number of places suitable for brook trout, but over the past several years they used long term temperature trackers and other info and identified 11 streams statewide that appeared to be places where brook trout could survive and thrive. A few of those were within the same general area as creeks that already had healthy brook trout populations, so DNR biologists captured brook trout from the healthy population streams and transplanted them to three of the healthy water streams with no trout in them. When they checked the following year, all of the streams that got transplanted trout not only still had brook trout in them, they also had young of year brookies from a successful spawn.

This link tells more about the program: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2025/...ntroduces-brook-trout-to-once-vacant-streams/

They don't name the creeks involved (either the source or target creeks) to protect the fairly fragile resource, but it is good to know it's a high priority among the biologists. I had the good fortune to listen to one of the biologists involved talk about the effort. You could tell they are very excited about the success of the program.

Interestingly, the Maryland group says West Virginia has a cutting edge brook trout restoration program, but I'm not up to speed on that one. Maryland is also in the process of building a small brook trout only hatchery (on the grounds of an existing hatchery) where they'll be spawning out wild brookies and planting the young fish in creeks with potential in an effort to expand the brook trout population across the state.

 

[ryansheehan]

North Branch of the Potomac and Savage River both have outstanding wild trout populations. North Branch Potomac, a cold water release from Jennings Randolph Lake, is also stocked. It's probably Maryland's best stream.

I've got no idea how it fishes in wintertime, but it's big water, so don't go alone.

Savage is also a cold water release from Savage River Reservoir to the Potomac with wild browns and brooks. Not as big as the Potomac, but is a fairly substantial stream. Again, no clue about winter fishing, but it's a first rate fishery.

Thanks Jim, my post wasn't very well written.
I have fished those two streams alot, I'm just looking for something a little different which is why the Elk peaked my interest. If the flows are OK we will spend one day on the Elk(or somewhere in WV), one day on the yough and one day on the North Branch/Savage. Both the North Branch and the Savage are a little low for my liking. You should do some wintertime fishing there, they fish well then.

 

[CinnamonJoe]

Maryland has a limited number of places suitable for brook trout, but over the past several years they used long term temperature trackers and other info and identified 11 streams statewide that appeared to be places where brook trout could survive and thrive. A few of those were within the same general area as creeks that already had healthy brook trout populations, so DNR biologists captured brook trout from the healthy population streams and transplanted them to three of the healthy water streams with no trout in them. When they checked the following year, all of the streams that got transplanted trout not only still had brook trout in them, they also had young of year brookies from a successful spawn.

This link tells more about the program: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2025/...ntroduces-brook-trout-to-once-vacant-streams/

They don't name the creeks involved (either the source or target creeks) to protect the fairly fragile resource, but it is good to know it's a high priority among the biologists. I had the good fortune to listen to one of the biologists involved talk about the effort. You could tell they are very excited about the success of the program.

Interestingly, the Maryland group says West Virginia has a cutting edge brook trout restoration program, but I'm not up to speed on that one. Maryland is also in the process of building a small brook trout only hatchery (on the grounds of an existing hatchery) where they'll be spawning out wild brookies and planting the young fish in creeks with potential in an effort to expand the brook trout population across the state.

All good-but if I was still a MD resident/tax payer/fishing license/trout stamp buyer, I would be actively raising Kane about this secret stream business!

Tax payers & legally licensed anglers have a right to know how their contributions to the DNR are being used-with clarity.

Ok. Rant over.

I do think this a good thing, otherwise.

I do wish Ryan a good trip and success down there, that Allegheny plateau region of Maryland and West Virginia is a special place!

 

[ryansheehan]

I haven't fished it but I've heard good things about dry fork near Job/Whitmer. Maybe a little shorter of a drive. No clue how it fishes in winter. Almost fished it one day a few years ago but it got blown out by storms the night before. I think it's mostly holdover browns rather than true wilds. At least worth looking into.

Thanks, that looks very interesting, definitely closer.

 

[td566]

I didn’t fish it much at all when I lived in WV, but Elk was always viewed as one of WVs best trout streams. Elk Springs is where the river resurfaces from being underground for a few miles, so water temps should be pretty good for winter fishing for a mile or 2 downstream. Lots of bug life, and known for midge fishing with sizes down to 32.

If memory serves, you will need all of 2 hours to get there in good weather, and allow 2.5-3 hours in less than ideal weather. The gravel road from the top of the mountain may be challenging in winter weather, though may even be paved by now.
The guide or owner of Elk Springs resort used to be very well respected and helpful with any questions and info about the river (he was sort of the Elk “river keeper”). I would contact them. I’m also not sure if they post any water or require a daily tag to fish their section of stream. There was a mile or 2 of catch and release project water downstream from Elk Springs. I only fished it a few times in low clear conditions. I think it holds both wild and stocked trout.
That’s my extent of Elk River knowledge. It was always a long way from any place I ever lived in WV. Hope this is somewhat helpful.

 

[td566]

I haven't fished it but I've heard good things about dry fork near Job/Whitmer. Maybe a little shorter of a drive. No clue how it fishes in winter. Almost fished it one day a few years ago but it got blown out by storms the night before. I think it's mostly holdover browns rather than true wilds. At least worth looking into.

There’s also a trib of Dry Fork called Red Run that has special regs for Brook Trout. It’s a smaller stream that starts in Canaan Valley and flows off the mountain down into Dry Fork upstream from Parsons. Depending on weather and road conditions it may be tough access. Near the mouth may be best. There’s a special regs sign along the road and a pull off or two for limited parking.

 

[nd1001]

There’s also a trib of Dry Fork called Red Run that has special regs for Brook Trout. It’s a smaller stream that starts in Canaan Valley and flows off the mountain down into Dry Fork upstream from Parsons. Depending on weather and road conditions it may be tough access. Near the mouth may be best. There’s a special regs sign along the road and a pull off or two for limited parking.

Accessing this stream would be pretty tough if there’s any snow on the ground. It’s a steep hike in and a pretty high gradient, scrambly stream. I would save this for spring/summer, personally.