Savage River, Garrett County MD, 9/10/23

[bdhoover77]

Flow: 50cfs
Water temp: 60 degrees
Hatches: Small brown stoneflies, midges, some mayflies, and a few caddis

I have been meaning to fish the Savage River for a couple years but life always seems to get in the way (work, kids’ activities, weather, etc.). I finally had the chance to get out to western Maryland for a guide trip.

The stream was fairly low but the wading was still tricky compared to the other MD streams I normally get to fish. The rains held off for most of the day until about the final hour of the trip. We saw some decent insect activity, primarily midges and quite a few small brown stoneflies.

All the fish I caught were on size 16 black and brown pheasant tail nymphs. We saw some rising fish but I couldn’t get any to take a dry. Overall it was a fun day fishing a stream I had not yet been on. I’m not sure I’d be able to handle wading the Savage every day, but the scenery was beautiful.

 

[salmo]

Nice fish. No Brookies?

 

[bdhoover77]

I was fishing the tailwater section that day. I didn’t see or find any brookies. I do want to go check out the upper system in the spring for brook trout.

 

[salmo]

There are good sized brookies below the dam.

 

[goose54cdd]

Beautiful fish from a beautiful river.

 

[salmo]

Beautiful fish from a beautiful river.

Thanks

 

[goose54cdd]

I used to fish there about 5 times a year. I guess it's about 2 1/2 hours from where I live in Portage PA. I haven't been back since they did the work on the breast. It's not an easy stream to wade and I wonder if I can still fish there while taking a blood thinner and having an artificial right shoulder. I guess I could find a few easier places to get on the water. I dunno', but I miss it.

 

[salmo]

I fished it in June at age 73 with high BP and a bad cervical radiculopathy. Used a wading staff and fished close to the dam. Still living to tell the story. I heard that in the early spring above the dam is very easy wading.

 

[FirstLight]

Hey BDHoover77
I appreciate the details in your report. Gives me some ideas on flies that are effective now; plan to fish it next week.

 

[bdhoover77]

Hey BDHoover77
I appreciate the details in your report. Gives me some ideas on flies that are effective now; plan to fish it next week.

The flies that worked for me that day were size 16 black france flies — small silver bead, body of black stretch tubing, CDL tail fibers, and a collar of black possum fur. I also used a size 16 pheasant tail nymph in brown olive.

 

[FirstLight]

Thank you BDHoover,
May have something similar to the black
france fly. For sure have a variety of small pheasant tail nymphs.

 

[goose54cdd]

I fished it in June at age 73 with high BP and a bad cervical radiculopathy. Used a wading staff and fished close to the dam. Still living to tell the story. I heard that in the early spring above the dam is very easy wading.

Thanks, Salmo. I feel a little better about giving it another shot.

 

[nativebrownie]

Remember a weekend in June years and years ago - spectacular... No one was on that beautiful river then. All brook trout - just swing a couple of wets down and across with a soft cane rod. Wading was just as tricky then but that weekend still sparkles in my memory. All brook trout - different fishery way back...