Are there fish in the Patuxent south of Brighton Dam in November?

[Thomas Radman]

Part of this area is "fly only", and this map shows some stocking events in the area.  Seems the Patuxent near Laurel was stocked 4/2022, but I assume those fish are gone now?  At this time of year, are there fish in the Patuxent south of Brighton Dam?

https://maryland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=fbad23ec650742d0bf5eb229b1fef5b8

[Wesley Zhao]

I have caught Walleye, LMB, yellow perch, and fallfish below the dam. I never have seen or caught any trout, but the last time I was there was 2 years ago. honestly wouldn't be surprised if snakehead are there now too, and I have seen videos of someone catching pickerel just below the dam. 

[Doug Graebner]

honestly I'd go up there to flyfish for walleye this winter, that sounds fun AF

[Deadbait]

PPTU really has all the insight on the Patuxent system (Upper, Middle, tailwater below Brighton, Little). Due to extensive work on the dam the last what - 4 or 5 years? - the tailwater has become wildly unreliable. One day you fish it you find a holdover trout, the other, 70-degree water and fall fish and carp. The latest Conservationist from PPTU has the update on the dissolved oxygen issue at the dam (it's still a waiting game). Anyway, Brighton is almost always a mixed bag. PPTU stocked Brighton in March but the trout would all be dead or moved downstream to the reservoir to deep cool water throughout the summer. They typically don't make a run and come back up as the weather cools.

Radman - your better off fishing the Middle. "Wednesday, October 12th, several PPTU Volunteers float stocked the Middle Patuxent Delayed Harvest section with about 400 brown trout.. The reports from the crew were all that these trout were of an impressive size on average. Many 14-16" fish!!!" according to PPTU.  This gets hit heavily by traditional anglers who often keep fish, but you may find some holdovers in the deeper holes. Try euro-nymphing to them.

https://www.pptu.org/streams/stocking

Please consider supporting PPTU.

Take a sinking line for the pool below Brighton (u never know what u might find this time of year).

[Thomas Radman]

Thanks @Deadbait and others.  Great, helpful responses.  I will check out PPTU and try to join the events.  I've never heard of them before!