Baltimore County Wild Browns

When most people think of fly fishing in Baltimore, they think of the Gunpowder River in northern Baltimore County. The wild trout population in the Gunpowder is strong and the cold water temperature allows for year-round fishing. I grew up fishing on the Gunpowder and it was where I learned to fly fish. I can remember catching my first brown trout near Masemore Road. I have many fond memories of the Gunpowder and feel a special connection to the river.

Unfortunately, I have noticed a steady decline in the fishery. Unpredictable flows and an increase in fishing pressure since the pandemic has much to do with this decline. I no longer fish the Gunpowder on weekends and only target sections that require a hike in. During the pandemic, I almost entirely stopped fishing the river due to the amount of pressure it received. It was during this time that I started exploring some of the other trout streams in Baltimore County. I quickly found a favorite.

This August, I returned to my favorite stream in search of wild brown trout. In the past, the small stream was my go-to spot. The fish weren’t huge, but I could always find a trout. I decided to explore a section that I hadn’t fished in a few years, hiking downstream from my normal put in. As I walked downstream, I noticed a house next to the stream. An older gentleman sat on his porch watching the Orioles game. He was rather hammered and yelled to me asking whether I had had any luck. I told him that I hadn’t started yet, but was walking downstream to try a different section. Our conversation continued for a few minutes as he told me about all of the trout he sees when walking along the river. He informed me that his property ran all the way downstream to the next bridge, but I was more than welcome to fish. I took him up on his offer.

The stream ran through his property, paralleling the road. High grasses protected much of the banks, making access difficult. When the stream finally came into sight, I was astonished. It reminded me of the farmland streams of the Driftless Area. It was perfect trout water. I cast into the current and allowed my dry fly to drift along the end of the rock outcropping. As soon as the fly cleared the rock, a wild brown rose and inhaled it. I walked upstream, repeating this process in every pool

When I got back to his porch, I told the man about my luck. He told me that he had caught many fish in that section and that it was often overlooked by anglers. I agreed, thanked him, and began my walk back to the truck. Once again, this stream had proved itself as one of the best in the area. I haven’t seen much about the stream online and I rarely see other anglers. It served as a good reminder to get outside and explore. You never know what you will find and who you will meet.