Savage River, Garrett Co., Maryland, 03/18/2017

3wt7X

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Joined
Nov 19, 2008
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704
Time Fished: 0800 am-0300 PM

Weather:
It was a chili 34 degrees with cloud cover when we arrived. Throughout the day, the temps rose into the upper forties with light rain starting around 2 o'clock, and became stronger as the afternoon progressed. We did not see the sun all day, so I am basically saying that the weather was everything that you'd hope for in a late March day searching for the first olive hatch of the year.

Water Conditions:
Similar to my trip last week, the water was still running strong at 112 cfs, but this week it had a little less stain to it in the morning. As the rains came down late afternoon, the water became chalky. That stream was cold yesterday. I looked at the USGS information, and it was the only day on the chart that did not break the 42 degree mark in water temp.

Hatches:
The morning saw little to nothing going on hatch wise. Around 11 am, we started noticing an emergence of midges of varied sizes from tiny to almost a size 18. My good friend told me he saw a couple olives come off in the hole he was fishing, just prior to us breaking for lunch. When we returned from lunch, we began scouting larger holes and seeing heads coming up. The midge hatch became stronger, and the olives size 20 hatched in numbers that were sparse, but strong enough to get the attention of the wild browns.

Results:
Best day of the season so far, My good friend came up from Quantico Virginia and I introduced him to the Savage. I showed him the holding water that was productive last week, and I told him to count every fish caught in the morning as a gift this time of year, because things really don't start happening until the stream warms up a bit. His first Savage River fish turns out to be a gorgeous 16 wild brown. I had one of those big fish that got away moments in the morning. While fishing a deep run with a tandem rig of an small egg and size 22 zebra midge, a brown in the 18 inch range takes the midge and bull dogs me in the back of the run with big head shakes until the small midge fly comes popping out of his jaw bone. Upon coming back from lunch we were greeted with a steady dose of rising trout, and we took about a dozen on different midge and bwo dry flies in a size 20-22.
 

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Wow, nice job, and get so many surface feeding fish in this sort of weather must have been a treat. I'll say it again: the Savage has some of the best looking BTs you'll see anywhere. That fish in the bottom pic has a nice hook jaw.

Also interesting with the stained water, which is visible in the pics, and the consistent midge activity. It doesn't get mentioned much, but one of the most beneficial aspects of a good PAFF fishing report are photos of the water, as this can reaaly put in perspective the conditions with respect to hatches, fish activity, etc.

Great report. It's been too long since we've hit the Savage together 3wt7X, let's do it again sometime this year.
 
Sounds good Dave... Like everywhere else, it should only get better from here in terms of hatches. I've sent you a couple PMs this year regarding day trips. I know your a busy guy, so no big deal if you saw them and did not respond, but I was wondering if maybe my PM system isn't working properly. Can you verify if your received them. It was just two messages a few weeks ago regarding a day trip on the Little J as a reference point.
 
That hole/run in your second pic is about as consistent as it gets on the Savage. I've had dreams about catching a monster out of it for years, but no luck yet. Always full of rainbows. Good fishing!

 
Hey 3wt. I love reading your reports. I would love to fish Western Maryland some time.
 
3oh4,
Your are correct about the rainbows in that hole, I was surprised to see that brown chomping on my pink worm when I saw him.

Salmo,
I think we've messaged about this before. I appreciate the comment greatly, and if you pm me with some notice, I'd be happy to join you out there for a day or two and show you around. My schedule is flexible to a certain degree, and if you don't mind tent camping, you can stay right on the river for 5 bucks a night.
 
You know that is a great hole but I Don't pick up many fish in the middle by the ledge. Always loaded up in the riffle and the bend of the turn and a few in the very back. I'm always dumbfounded that I get shut out through the middle.

 
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