If the lower Savage River is the star of Maryland's trout program in Allegany and Garrett counties, then the North Branch of the Potomac River and the Casselman River play the lead supporting roles.
The North Branch of the Potomac, from the town of Luke in Allegany County upstream to the dam at Jennings Randolph Lake, once was considered nearly dead because of pollutants produced by industries upriver.
Since 1987, West Virginia and Maryland aggressively have stocked the river with thousands of trout annually, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has regulated the flow and quality of water released from the Jennings Randolph dam.
The result has been a near-miraculous recovery of the river, which now is the largest trout stream in Maryland, with average widths of more than 100 feet.
In the Casselman River, the Maryland DNR instituted a delayed harvest program last year to stretch out the trout season. From Jan. 1 through May 31, the Casselman is managed as a catch-and-return stream limited to flies and artificial lures. From June 1 through Jan. 1, the Casselman is opened to bait fishing, and two trout per day are permitted to be taken.
Deep Creek Lake and Savage River Reservoir, of course, hold trout year around, as well as warm-water fish.
The smaller, stocked trout streams probably are thin in water and trout by this time of year, and are included in the accompanying list mainly as reference points for next spring when stocking resumes.
Rivers, streams, reservoirs, lakes and ponds
TROUT RIVERS AND STREAMS
Name .. .. .. .. .. .. .. County .. ..Location
Bear Creek .. .. .. .. .. Garrett .. .Intersection of Rts. 219 and 42
Buffalo Run .. .. .. .. ..Garrett .. .Crosses Wakefield Road NW of Sang Run
Casselman River .. .. .. .Garrett .. .Crosses old U.S. Rt. 40 at Grantsville
Evitts Creek .. .. .. .. .Allegany .. Crosses U.S. Rt. 40 near Cumberland
Fifteen Mile Creek .. .. .Allegany .. within Green Ridge State Forest
Flintstone Creek .. .. .. Allegany .. Crosses U.S. Rt. 40 at Flintstone
Jennings Run watershed .. Allegany .. tributary of Wills Creek
Laurel Run .. .. .. .. .. Allegany .. off Md. Rt. 36 near Moscow
Mill Run .. .. .. .. .. . Garrett .. .Near Niles Mill off Mill Run Road
Muddy Creek .. .. .. .. ..Garrett .. .Crosses Cranesville Road near Browning .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Mill
N. Branch of Potomac .. ..Garrett .. .From Luke to Jennings Reservoir
