Beaver Creek Fishing Report

Type: Nontidal
Region: Western
Location: Beaver Creek

Dear Maryland Fishing Reports:
I fished the new catch and release section on upper Beaver Creek in Washington County just down from the highway on 10/25/11. This was formerly a put and take section for Rainbows but now it is catch and release for wild Brown Trout. Take note of the sign with the new regulations. Rainbows can still be kept. I tried several holes and had fish following my streamer. Finally I hooked a nice fish at a deep hole with a tree root. The stubborn fish tried to foul my line on the root but with a little bit of luck I got the trout. It was a nice Brown of 14" with good color. I fished upstream and spooked a Brown of roughly the same size as the one I caught.

I decided to go downstream to fish for put and take Rainbows. There isa hole by a bridge off of Benevola Church Road that only affords a small area for fishing as there are no trespassing signs that block access further upstream and down. At any rate I saw several Rainbows and two enormous Browns. I finally hooked one of the Rainbows on a streamer and put that one in my cooler. The Browns would not bite on anything I put in front of them for several hours. I just wonder if there is more put and take fishing available other than this tiny area and another tiny area just below the lower catch and release section. I talked to another fisherman there and he said a ton of fish were put in there but they disappeared quickly even though many were not caught. Had a good day with nice fall weather catching two Trout. Tight lines.

DNR Response by Fisheries Biologist Mark Toms:Richard � It is great to hear you are spending some quality time fishing Beaver Creek, in my opinion a hidden gem and one of only a few limestone spring creeks in Maryland. I can understand your confusion in angler access areas. Like many streams in this area of Maryland, most if not all stream reaches are privately owned. Over the years angler access has been shrinking due too ownership changing hands or poor angler behavior leaving limited or segmented access. Beaver Creek is a perfect example. I will try to explain where current Put and Take regulations exist and stocking takes place. Beginning below the Albert Powell Hatchery, the Put and Take regulation is in effect downstream to a small tributary (Black Rock Creek). The landowner behind the fly shop has self imposed the catch and release of brown trout due too the fact these are wild fish in this section. Catch and Release/Fly Only regulations begin at Black Rock Creek downstream approximately one mile to a red post. The Put and Take begins again at Beaver Creek Road downstream to the end of the meadow. The next segment of Put and Take begins at Toms Road upstream to fence. The last next segment begins at Alt. Rt. 40 downstream to the Roxbury Road Bridge. Additional opportunities exist if you are willing to knock on doors and ask permission. I hope this information helps. Good Luck!