For my last trip of the 2006 season, I hit the North Branch at the Wallman northern parking lot.  Although I did not have great luck the previous time I fished this section, it is so scenic, that I just had to get there one more time. The weather was very cold - with the air temps holding in the low 40s or high 30s and pushed even lower by the wind chill.  The water was about 44 degrees - pushing the trout into a less active state.  Complicating the trip was muddy water and a significant number of leaves still floating around. But, the location was glorious - not another person in sight on the Sunday morning we were there.  Like last time, we hiked down to the bridge to fish the pools that show up after the turn in the river.  On thinking about that, I really do not know why I wasted the fishing time to walk all the way down there.  There were plenty of great looking spots on the way that would have been equally productive.  I won't bother to do that next time.  Instead, I'll just walk far enough from the lot to put some separation between me and the truck. The water was high the day we were there.  What were pools the last time I was here were now broad deep runs where the water pushed and shoved to get through.  The speed was fast - making it hard to get the lures down deep where the fish were probably holding. My brother was using various flies, but could not get them deep either.  Now that I am fixated on learning to fly fish, I'll have to get some advice on how to solve this problem.  From my reading, I suspect the answer is a split shot on the tippet to pull the nymph down into the fish zone. I only caught one trout - a nice guy about 13 inches long - enough to produce one adrenalin spike.  As I plan next season, I know I will come back here to beat the water again, but probably not until late summer as there is plenty of other new water I want to check.

Steyer, MD gage reading  Getting There:  It's a bit confusing.  For detailed directions, please purchase either the North Branch Map Book for $4.95 or the full 190 page Fishing guide to the North Branch for $9.95.  After checkout, you can download the books instantly. The fishing guide is also available in hardcopy - click here Both books include detailed directions overlaid on topo maps with pictures for the confusing places to get you to the river.  The key difference is that the full book walks you up the river from Westernport to Wilson using over 140 pictures with a detailed discussion of what to expect beyond the parking lot. Sorry to have to do this, but selling these eBooks is how I support the cost of maintaining this site.  Please support the site.

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Finally, access points may be different or restricted based on changes in property ownership since posting the original article.  It is up to you to make sure you are fishing where it is legal.