Big Rainbow on Middle Creek

Type: Nontidal
Region: North Central
Location: Middle Creek and Owens Creek

I finally caught one of those big rainbow trouts the state has been releasing into Maryland trout streams. I started the day on lower Middle Creek fishing by the baseball park close to town. I talked to a man who told me the creek had been stocked with 126 rainbows though most of them were 9 inches long. He was doubtful that the fish were there as recent rainstorms washed them down stream. I started fishing the high and muddy creek with no luck. I decided to go upstream to the middle portion where I have had good luck before. Fished one of the big pools and hooked into a bluegill but after that no luck. Went upstream and fished a nice pool and saw a huge rainbow trout surface after some insects. Fished the pool but gave up after awhile. Went upstream to the next pool and fished that one. I decided to go back to the pool where I saw the large trout and hooked it on a bead head wooly bugger. The fish zig zagged and twisted and turned in the current. I could not believe the size. Then the fish went over the spillway into the next run and two more runs. I had to strip line off the reel and follow downstream. The fish was hung on a rock and I had to free the line-3X tippet. I almost lost it. Finally I beached the huge trout-it was 24 inches long and around 8 lbs. This fish I kept for the broiler as the summer heat would probably kill it. This was compensation for a huge trout on the Gunpowder that took 100 yards of line and then spit out the hook. That wild fish was a stronger fish but still the large rainbow I just caught put up a memorable fight.

Since I was not too far from Owens Creek I went up there to fish the summer stocking of brown trout. Caught and released two of these fish though the fight was not nearly as exciting as the big rainbow. Owens Creek has many brown trout in the 12 inch range. Could be a 24 inch in there somewhere though no dinner that night if you get one-got to put it back. Owens Creek is catch and release until next spring. Tight lines all.