Savage River, Garrett County MD, 4/6/23

[ryansheehan]

Flow:130 cfs
Water temp:43 degrees
Hatches: A few caddis, stones and midges

I took my youngest over to the Savage since they just dropped the flow from over 200 the day before. He's only twelve so still getting his wading legs but we were able to pick a few spots to wade. He ended up with three great browns the biggest with no help from dad(aka net man). All the fish were caught underneath nymphing. There were a group of steady risers at the PhD pool(as normal), watched a guy fish a little bit but we moved on quickly. I'm guessing they were taking midges but only a guess.

 

[Joe_P]

I never understood why they call it the PHD pool, i never found it that difficult. The pool with the walking bridge over it down river is the one that gives me fits. I graduated from WVU and this is probably my favorite east coast stream. Great report

 

[JimKennedy]

Well done. Looks like the kid is hooked for life!

 

[ryansheehan]

I never understood why they call it the PHD pool, i never found it that difficult. The pool with the walking bridge over it down river is the one that gives me fits. I graduated from WVU and this is probably my favorite east coast stream. Great report

I think the PhD pool gets slammed because it's so easy to see and it's the closest access point(pretty much) to the dam. People drive by and there are rise forms so they stop and fish. The tricky part is it's got some complex currents and most of the time they are eating something very small. I think that's what frustrates people. 10 percent of the people catch 90 percent of the fish and this is especially true at the pHd pool. That's why I skip it most of the time!

 

[ryansheehan]

Well done. Looks like the kid is hooked for life!

Thanks! They have both really gotten into it the last 8 months or so. I think this sealed the deal for the little one as his older brother has had the better days....until now.

 

[Dr.J 1952]

Fished the Savage last Tuesday and Wednesday for the first time. Fished up from the blue bridge. Caught an 18” brown and a fat 18” Brookie. My son in law caught a 16” rainbow. Lots of caddis, BWOs and Blue duns but only one riser. Had him on but he got off. Regardless, it was worth the $35 for a three day license.

 

[ryansheehan]

Fished the Savage last Tuesday and Wednesday for the first time. Fished up from the blue bridge. Caught an 18” brown and a fat 18” Brookie. My son in law caught a 16” rainbow. Lots of caddis, BWOs and Blue duns but only one riser. Had him on but he got off. Regardless, it was worth the $35 for a three day license.

18 inch brookie!!!! Wild or stocker, picture?

 

[Dr.J 1952]

I thought it was a brown at first but once in the net I saw all the spots along the belly. It was a fatty. I assume it was a native by the coloration. It took a bead head pheasant tail. A picture would have been nice but I’m not really into that having caught so many fish over the years and I don’t like to handle the fish that much. Besides, I had a witness. Lol

 

[Dr.J 1952]

Here’s where I caught it.

 

[ryansheehan]

I thought it was a brown at first but once in the net I saw all the spots along the belly. It was a fatty. I assume it was a native by the coloration. It took a bead head pheasant tail. A picture would have been nice but I’m not really into that having caught so many fish over the years and I don’t like to handle the fish that much. Besides, I had a witness. Lol

Yeah but an 18 inch brookie!!!

 

[Fish Sticks]

I fished the upper savage in the Brook Trout management upper watershed above the Dam. It was gorgeous. 53 degrees water temps. Saw what looked to be a 13-14” brookie staring at me as I walked by it. It was LOW up there Thursday Friday and sat and it was hunkered down in a deep pool but very close to the bank when I walked by, my feet were 5 feet away from it, it looked at me for a split second and got outta there fast. Absolute monster. Blue quill spinner falls in the evening were the ticket and I found abundant pods of brookies in tailouts taking them and was able to trick a few. Caddis emergence was happening all day. Day time fishing in the low water consisted of tight-line nymphing from 20-25 ft away with a 10 foot rod with a lafontane sparkle pupa during caddis emergence. Saw many larger spinners size brown and cream colored size 12 could not ID but brookies would not touch my imitations of them in the evening and seemed to be focusing on more abundant size 18 blue quill. My favorite place to fish by far.

 

[albud1962]

Maryland does not stock brook trout so that 18" monster was a native. Good job.

 

[ryansheehan]

Maryland does not stock brook trout so that 18" monster was a native. Good job.

There are stockers in the north branch from west Virginia that swim up into the Savage alot. I'm not saying it was a stocker but they are there. Here's an example.

 

[albud1962]

There are stockers in the north branch from west Virginia that swim up into the Savage alot. I'm not saying it was a stocker but they are there. Here's an example.View attachment 1641230247

Oh I forgot wv stocking