Fishing Harper's Ferry

[Jeff Tranguch]

Morning all,

I'm looking to do some fishing at Harper's Ferry and was wondering where a good place to wade would be. Anyone know any good spots? I've never been up there.

Many thanks,
Jeff

[MikeV]

I am also interested but have no experience there.

Mike V

[namfos]

Harpers - lots of water, big water. On the safety side, I prefer to fish Harpers when the Point of Rocks gage, http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?01638500,  is less than 2 feet, 1.75 is even better. If you're younger and bolder than me, maybe 2.25 and dropping will be okay. ;-) 

Time spent staring at Bing and Google maps set to aerial view will tell you quite a lot.

Lots of structure between Dam 3 and Byrnes Island - there's also several rubber hatches in the course of the day from the WV side. ;-) And unless you get here early, parking on the MD side can be a bitch. Weverton area is pretty good too, it's the sector just upstream of Knoxville on the MD side. I hear Lander is pretty good (half way between Point of Rocks and Brunswick) but I haven't fished it. 

Also: MD license is good throughout this area on the Potomac. But up near the US 340 bridge you need to be aware of being in VA or WV if you don't have a MD license. Then again, I've never been asked to produce my license - could it be DNR or Park Service assumes fly fishermen play by the rules?  ;-)

Steve Moore's site, http://www.switchfisher.com/ has lots of info and Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin has some handy maps for the upper Potomac. http://www.potomacriver.org/mapdownload/ and http://www.potomacriver.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/map-order.pdf

Mark