Fatty Rainbows on the North Branch of the Potomac River

[Trent Jones]

Fellow Orvis fishing manager Art Noglak and I made the drive out to western Maryland to float a section of the North Branch of the Potomac with Guide PJ Daley on Wednesday and the trip was awesome. The weather could not have been nicer for August and the fish were hungry.

 

We put quite a few fat rainbows in the boat as well as a couple of gorgeous Browns. Some of the rainbows looked like they actually had a tennis ball lodged in their belly. Needless to say the rainbows pulled really hard especially in the heavier current. Although we floated the river we took plenty of time to get out and wade productive sections. Double nymph rigs were the ticket all day, although PJ stuck one nice rainbow on a dry.

 

I wont say the trip wasn't without incident. The landing net broke quite early in the trip making fish landing very interesting, we had a random encounter with some sort of rogue stinging caterpillar, and I spilled almost an entire beer on myself by trying to store it in my chest pocket while I was hooked up to a fish. In regards to the broken net, I am not going to name, names...but it wasn't me...or PJ. I am almost certain Wednesday was the hardest I have ever laughed while on the water!

 

It is a blessing to have a floatable trout river within driving distance, especially one this beautiful.

 

Big Thank You to PJ Daley for getting Art and I on some great fish and rowing us down the river!

-Trent

[TurbineBlade]

Nice report!  Beth and I spent last weekend at the "other" stream there camping and fishing pocket water.  I forgot how tricky those wild browns are to get to rise versus the usual SNP brook trout ;).  We got some nice ones, but I figured I'd clogged the forum with enough reports by now ;).  

I was wondering how the North Branch was doing while there, but didn't make it over there.  

Pretty bows guys -- 

Gene

[namfos]

Next time bring duct tape

Mark

[Danny Barrett]

Great pics.  If i may ask, where did you put in and take out at?

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[Joe Mathews]

I'll second the request for access points!  Have been wanting to float the N Branch myself.  Also interested in whether you guys floated through any real whitewater, or whether it was mostly flatwater and riffles when they are not releasing from the dam.

On Sunday, August 30, 2015 at 12:54:59 PM UTC-4, Danny Barrett wrote:

Great pics.  If i may ask, where did you put in and take out at?

On Fri, Aug 28, 2015 at 3:48 PM Trent Jones <tjon...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Fellow Orvis fishing manager Art Noglak and I made the drive out to western Maryland to float a section of the North Branch of the Potomac with Guide PJ Daley on Wednesday and the trip was awesome. The weather could not have been nicer for August and the fish were hungry.

 

We put quite a few fat rainbows in the boat as well as a couple of gorgeous Browns. Some of the rainbows looked like they actually had a tennis ball lodged in their belly. Needless to say the rainbows pulled really hard especially in the heavier current. Although we floated the river we took plenty of time to get out and wade productive sections. Double nymph rigs were the ticket all day, although PJ stuck one nice rainbow on a dry.

 

I wont say the trip wasn't without incident. The landing net broke quite early in the trip making fish landing very interesting, we had a random encounter with some sort of rogue stinging caterpillar, and I spilled almost an entire beer on myself by trying to store it in my chest pocket while I was hooked up to a fish. In regards to the broken net, I am not going to name, names...but it wasn't me...or PJ. I am almost certain Wednesday was the hardest I have ever laughed while on the water!

 

It is a blessing to have a floatable trout river within driving distance, especially one this beautiful.

 

Big Thank You to PJ Daley for getting Art and I on some great fish and rowing us down the river!

-Trent

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[Trent Jones]

Gene,

 

From what I gather it sounds like that other stream has been fishing pretty sluggish as of late. I certainly have had some Savage days fishing that water myself. But I still think it one of the best trout streams around.

 

Danny and Joe,

 

We floated the section below Westernport. We hit a few pieces of rough water but it was not anything I would classify as white water.

 

-T

On Friday, August 28, 2015 at 3:48:06 PM UTC-4, Trent Jones wrote:

[TurbineBlade]

Oh, well maybe that'll make me feel better then.  We absolutely worked that stream over the other day (actually 2 days) and had not an easy time getting browns to come to the surface.  Our effort-to-fish ratio was fairly poor, but we had enough come up to somehow keep going.  Beth had a really nice one take (and come unbuttoned), so that was enough for her ;). 

I like those rainbows Trent -- the last time I was in the NBP I had to jam my 5-weight butt into the bottom to use as a wading staff.  That's rough water!  I love the fish though.  I only caught a pencil-sized brown in there, nothing else. 

Gene

[Cameron Abbott]

Trent, it seems every trip you take is with incident. lol Dan and Matt told me about the trip with them.Nice looking fish though!

Cameron

[Joe Mathews]

Thanks Trent.  I'm camping in that area this weekend and may bring my boat to float that section.  Was curious whether the water levels were high enough this time of year, but the Savage River guys don't always answer their phone.

That rainbow in the closeup shot is a beautiful fish--looks like either a fingerling stocker or a wild fish, no?

On Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 11:00:59 AM UTC-4, Trent Jones wrote:

[Trent Jones]

 

Cameron,

 

I have found that it is the incidents that often make fishing trips memorable. 

 

I am sure in a few years I wont remember the flies I used or the number of fish I caught on Buffalo Creek last fall. What I will never forget is my brother walking through a briar patch wearing a Patagonia down jacket on Buffalo Creek. I heard it happening first and turned around to tell him to stop so I could help. My brother is almost claustrophobic, he totally hates tight spaces. So his reaction to being tugged at by each pointy barb was something I can only describe as looking like a Chris Farley character at high volume. To his credit he did free himself pretty quick, but that jacket was shredded and feathers were pouring out of it. I crack up every time I think about it.

 

I am digressing. You must be referring to either the blown transmission incident or the blown eighteen wheeler tire incident. I have attached a photo from the latter. We had to use a Leatherman and fishing pliers to butcher most of the front bumper and wheel housing after I creamed a truck tire going about 80MPH.

 

I moved a really nice muskie on that float and came tight to another one that shook its head twice before the hook came out.....so this photo of Dan and Matt is the only grip and grin from that particular trip. The grinning may seem a bit excessive but I think we all realized that we were extremely lucky it was not worse. Extremely lucky.

 

Joe,

 

Tough to say if they are stream born or stocked fingerlings, but you are spot on that they are gorgeous and they are very wild.

 

-Tjones

[Cameron Abbott]

Trent,

You absolutely right! I like the pic and you were very lucky! Those stories last longer than the trips. I am sure you heard my Andrew Thompson story, lol.

Cameron

[Danny Barrett]

Thanks for the put in info.  I only wade that river.  But have never fished below Westernport.

Thanks,

Dan Barrett

dannyt...@gmail.com

(540)-222-8064

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