FLY FISHING THE POTOMAC RIVER (NORTH BRANCH), MARYLAND

Potomac River (North Branch) details

Interactive map of the Potomac River (North Branch) and related businesses Is the water pin in the wrong place? Click here to let us know. Add a new map Weather Current Conditions: Mostly Cloudy, 68 F Forecast: Fri - Partly Cloudy. High: 75 Low: 50 Sat - Mostly Sunny. High: 82 Low: 59 Yahoo! Weather Anglers who fish the Potomac River (North Branch) 10point aidema deerslayer easternfly garthox31 NoVaTyer pshinnamon sgordon Trip reports 3 - FAIR on 09/08/2010 Reported by Orvis Tyson's Corners 9 / 8 / 2010 Water flow: 2.43 at Little Falls Visibility: 25 inches Water temperature at mid-day: 78 Degrees F Water condition: Clear Best time of day to fish: late morning to early aftrnoon Best stretch: Senica Breakes upstream to Point of Rock Best access point: Fly fishing hatches in order of importance: Poppers and big streamers are the ticket for this time of year. "Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance: Fly name Fly color Fly size Bass Popper blue 4 Tequeely Streamer copper 4 Bass Popper chartruese, 1 Gulley's Crawfish Natural 4 Woolly Bugger Streamer black 4 Bass Bully chartruese or purple hickey's condor blue, orange orange bloosom special orange 4,6,8 Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby Fish species: Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, panfish, catfish, carp Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 - September 30) Nearest airport: Dulles International Airport (IAD) Recommended fly fishing leader: 7 ½ Foot Leader Recommended fly fishing tippet: 2X Tippet Pound Test Best fly fishing rod: 9' 6 Weight Fly Rod Best floating fly line: Bass Freshwater WF Best sinking fly line: Streamer Stripper Sink Tip Real-time water flow data from USGS: For those of you that fish this area year-round now is a good time to be scouting out new areas while the water is low. (09/09/2010 at 06:40 AM by aidema) 3 - FAIR on 08/30/2010 Reported by Orvis Tyson's Corners 8 / 30 / 2010 Fishing Conditions Water flow: 2.59 at Little Falls Visibility: 25 inches Water temperature at mid-day: 80 Degrees F Water condition: Clear Best time of day to fish: late morning to early aftrnoon Best stretch: Senica Breakes upstream to Point of Rock Best access point: Fly fishing hatches in order of importance: Poppers and big streamers are the ticket for this time of year. "Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance: Fly name Fly color Fly size Bass Popper blue 4 Tequeely Streamer copper 4 Bass Popper chartruese, 1 Gulley's Crawfish Natural 4 Woolly Bugger Streamer black 4 Bass Bully chartruese or purple hickey's condor blue, orange orange bloosom special orange 4,6,8 Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby Fish species: Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, panfish, catfish, carp Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 - September 30) Nearest airport: Dulles International Airport (IAD) Recommended fly fishing leader: 7 ½ Foot Leader Recommended fly fishing tippet: 2X Tippet Pound Test Best fly fishing rod: 9' 6 Weight Fly Rod Best floating fly line: Bass Freshwater WF Best sinking fly line: Streamer Stripper Sink Tip Real-time water flow data from USGS: For those of you that fish this area year-round now is a good time to be scouting out new areas while the water is low. (08/31/2010 at 06:40 AM by aidema) 3 - FAIR on 08/23/2010 Reported by Orvis Tyson's Corners 8 / 23 / 2010 Fishing Conditions Water flow: 2.67 at Little Falls Visibility: 9 inches Water temperature at mid-day: 82 Degrees F Water condition: Clear Best time of day to fish: late morning to early aftrnoon Best stretch: Senica Breakes upstream to Point of Rock Best access point: Fly fishing hatches in order of importance: Poppers and big streamers are the ticket for this time of year. "Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance: Fly name Fly color Fly size Bass Popper blue 4 Tequeely Streamer copper 4 Bass Popper chartruese, 1 Gulley's Crawfish Natural 4 Woolly Bugger Streamer black 4 Bass Bully chartruese or purple hickey's condor blue, orange orange bloosom special orange 4,6,8 Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby Fish species: Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, panfish, catfish, carp Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 - September 30) Nearest airport: Dulles International Airport (IAD) Recommended fly fishing leader: 7 ½ Foot Leader Recommended fly fishing tippet: 2X Tippet Pound Test Best fly fishing rod: 9' 6 Weight Fly Rod Best floating fly line: Bass Freshwater WF Best sinking fly line: Streamer Stripper Sink Tip Real-time water flow data from USGS: For those of you that fish this area year-round now is a good time to be scouting out new areas while the water is low. (08/24/2010 at 06:40 AM by aidema) 2 - GOOD on 08/18/2010 Reported by Orvis Tyson's Corners 8 / 18 / 2010 Fishing Conditions Water flow: 3.60 at Little Falls Visibility: 6 inches Water temperature at mid-day: 80 Degrees F Water condition: Clear Best time of day to fish: late morning to early aftrnoon Best stretch: Senica Breakes upstream to Point of Rock Best access point: Fly fishing hatches in order of importance: Poppers and big streamers are the ticket for this time of year. "Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance: Fly name Fly color Fly size Bass Popper blue 4 Tequeely Streamer copper 4 Bass Popper chartruese, 1 Gulley's Crawfish Natural 4 Woolly Bugger Streamer black 4 Bass Bully chartruese or purple hickey's condor blue, orange orange bloosom special orange 4,6,8 Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby Fish species: Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, panfish, catfish, carp Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 - September 30) Nearest airport: Dulles International Airport (IAD) Recommended fly fishing leader: 7 ½ Foot Leader Recommended fly fishing tippet: 2X Tippet Pound Test Best fly fishing rod: 9' 6 Weight Fly Rod Best floating fly line: Bass Freshwater WF Best sinking fly line: Streamer Stripper Sink Tip Real-time water flow data from USGS: For those of you that fish this area year-round now is a good time to be scouting out new areas while the water is low. (08/19/2010 at 06:40 AM by aidema) 2 - GOOD on 08/16/2010 Reported by Orvis Tyson's Corners 8 / 16 / 2010 Fishing Conditions Water flow: 2.92 at Little Falls Visibility: 14 inches Water temperature at mid-day: 80 Degrees F Water condition: Clear Best time of day to fish: late morning to early aftrnoon Best stretch: Senica Breakes upstream to Point of Rock Best access point: Fly fishing hatches in order of importance: Dragon flies have started, damselflies as well "Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance: Fly name Fly color Fly size Fluttering Blue Damsel blue 6 Tequeely Streamer copper 4 Bass Popper chartruese, carolina 1 Gulley's Crawfish Natural 4 Woolly Bugger Streamer black 4 Bass Bully chartruese or purple hickey's condor blue, orange orange bloosom special orange 4,6,8 Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby Fish species: Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, panfish, catfish, carp Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: April 1 - September 30) Nearest airport: Dulles International Airport (IAD) Recommended fly fishing leader: 7 ½ Foot Leader Recommended fly fishing tippet: 2X Tippet Pound Test Best fly fishing rod: 9' 6 Weight Fly Rod Best floating fly line: Bass Freshwater WF Best sinking fly line: Streamer Stripper Sink Tip Real-time water flow data from USGS: For those of you that fish this area year-round now is a good time to be scouting out new areas while the water is low. (08/18/2010 at 08:56 PM by aidema) 2 - GOOD on 07/07/2010 Went fishing on the North Branch near Barnum WV yesterday morning with a few friends. We we're on the river at dawn, the first few hours we're great dry action, however once the sun starts beating the water you better get walking through the pocket water and hit the overhanging banks with an adams or dark terrestrial pattern. evening right before dark and early morning are best times. Picked up some browns and a few nice bows. Seen several nice bows over 20 inches in the fast water but couldn't get a take. water temp was 54 . good fishing to you, wading normal, running at about 240- 250 cfpm. (07/07/2010 at 09:40 PM by garthox31) 1 - EXCELLENT on 07/01/2010 Over the last 2 weeks I have had the opportunity to have a few evenings on the Northbranch catch and release sections and the dry fly action has been wonderful about 2 hours before dark several large fish over 15 inches and there are some huge bows biting as well. (07/01/2010 at 07:59 AM by garthox31) 1 - EXCELLENT on 10/01/2009 It truely was a great evening on the North Branch. The leaves are starting to change now and after the last week of not so great weather it was good today. There we're some small bwo's hatching about 5 pm after that midges and an occasional rise. I landed some nice rainbows and a brown, peaceful up there this time of year the evenings are cool and the preasure all but gone. (10/01/2009 at 09:22 PM by garthox31) 2 - GOOD on 09/19/2009 Fishing was great in the morning, mid day and the evening on the north branch. Water is low and clear, wading is normal. Some stones are hatching at dawn, caddis's and midges all day. Hot flies are stone nymphs, bead head hares ear, tan caddis, small midge patterns. Picked up a lot of nice fish 3 over 22 inches, browns and rainbows. (09/19/2009 at 09:35 PM by garthox31) 4 - POOR on 09/01/2009 It was a slow day on the North Branch yesterday morning. Fished the pocket water pretty hard, not many hatches out. A few midges here and there, they must have been feeding sub surface. 2 very small cutthroats we're the only action we saw. (09/01/2009 at 01:06 AM by garthox31) 2 - GOOD on 08/23/2009 Great afternoon on the North Branch. My buddy and I caught several nice fish this afternoon, Browns, rainbows and a cut throat. Water was low and searching patterns worked well until the last hour or so, then pale evening duns we're out near the fast water (08/23/2009 at 10:24 PM by garthox31) 2 - GOOD on 08/17/2009 Had great evening on the North branch, caught some nice rainbows and my buddy lost a monster. Small tan caddis hatch early evening and a few sippers all evening long (08/17/2009 at 11:09 PM by garthox31) 1 - EXCELLENT on 07/28/2009 Fishing on the north branch was great yesterday afternoon. Almost all rainbows. half on drys and the rest on beadheads. In the catch and release section below blue hole (07/28/2009 at 10:59 AM by garthox31) 1 - EXCELLENT on 07/12/2009 Yesterday was a great evening on the northbranch. There are alot of large browns and bows surface feeding in the evenings. Most over 20 inches. If you don't mind a hike. In the catch and release section below blue hole. Be very careful, this time of year it is infested with rattlers along the cliffs and trails. We caught several large trout on gray fox variants and pale evening duns in the last 2 hours of day light. Also be very cautious in wading, very slick (07/12/2009 at 07:28 AM by garthox31) Descriptions 1. The North Branch of the Potomac has brook, cutthroat, and brown trout. It is a tailwater and superb fishery, and floating is the most effective way fly fish. (06/19/2008 at 03:33 PM by aidema) Add your description Pictures Posted By: cesar paredes Comment: "micacocha especial" Caught with: micacocha especial Fly size: 4 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 01/23/2010 Posted By: Danny Teets Caught with: Golden Stone Fly size: 12 Inches: 22 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 11/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "these things are everywhere in the lower catch and release section" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/24/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "copper head snakes on the trail at the north branch" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "watch your step when walking the trails at the north branch" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "copper head snakes on the trail at the north branch at dusk" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Caught with: tan elk hair caddis Fly size: 14 Inches: 16 Pounds: 2 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/19/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "north branch potomac river" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/04/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "north branch potomac river" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/04/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "north branch potomac river" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 09/04/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "north branch potomac river" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/23/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "cut throat at north branch" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/23/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "north branch, nice bow on" Caught with: pale evening dun Fly size: 14 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/23/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "rainbow at north branch" Caught with: royal wulf Fly size: 12 Inches: 14 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/23/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "Nice rainbow at north branch" Caught with: grizzley wulf Fly size: 12 Inches: 14 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/23/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "North Branch of the Potomac near Barnum" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/18/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "North Branch of the Potomac near Barnum" Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/17/2009 Posted By: Steven McClintock Comment: "North Branch Bow" Caught with: McClintock's Half-ass Salmon Fly Fly size: 10 Inches: 18 Pounds: 3 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/12/2009 Posted By: William Duncan Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/11/2009 Posted By: William Duncan Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 08/11/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "nice rainbow at barnum" Caught with: chart. suckerspawn Fly size: 12 Inches: 19 Pounds: 3 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 07/28/2009 Posted By: Chris Turner Comment: "nice brown at barnum" Caught with: gray fox Fly size: 16 Inches: 20 Pounds: 3 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 07/28/2009 Posted By: PJ Daley Comment: "Nice North Branch Rainbow" Date caught: 06 - 28 - Caught with: Grasshopper Fly size: 10 Inches: 24 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 10/06/2008 Posted By: PJ Daley Comment: "Another north branch dry fly bow." Date caught: 06 - 20 - Caught with: black cricket Fly size: 14 Inches: 24 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 10/06/2008 Posted By: PJ Daley Comment: "20 minute, two hundred yard beat down from this beautiful rainbow.............." Date caught: 09 - 24 - Caught with: parachute adams Fly size: 16 Inches: 24 Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 10/06/2008 Posted By: suzanne malone Date caught: 06 - 11 - Caught with: red/white clouser Water: Potomac River (North Branch), Maryland Picture added: 10/06/2008 Comments "Fantastic. Caught 2 20 inch rainbow on float trip with William" (04/25/2010 at 02:21 PM by roberteconnors) "It is only my opinion but i believe that the north branch of the Potomac river is the best trout river in the state" (04/25/2010 at 02:21 PM by garthox31) Add a new comment Ratings 7 (04/25/2010 at 03:27 PM by garthox31) Add your rating 10 (best) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (worst)

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Other members fly fishing this destination Chris Turner (Trip date: 07/06/2010) Pete Shinnamon (Trip date: 08/01/2010)

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