Casselman River

The Casselman is a gentle, meandering river that flows north through the farm valley at Grantsville, in northern Garrett County, and on into Pennsylvania. Restored from acid mine drainage, it's now one of Maryland's most popular trout streams: DNR stocks adult rainbows in spring and fall and manages the lower river as delayed-harvest water, so it's catch and release for most of the year. It's also one of the easiest western rivers to wade.

When to fish

• October to mid-June: catch-and-release season with artificial lures and flies, after the fall and spring stockings. A Fish & Hunt Maryland writer describes tan or olive caddis hatching like clockwork around mid-morning and early afternoon in May and June.
• Mid-June through September: harvest season with no tackle limits, but flows drop and the river can shrink to isolated pools; the state's trail guide suggests fishing elsewhere from June to August.

Where to fish

• The delayed-harvest water, I-68 to the Pennsylvania line: riffles, runs and deep pools, with public access at the upper boundary near I-68, in Casselman River Bridge State Park, and at signed spots along River Road.
• Cut banks, fallen timber and deep pools: where browns hold.
• Riffles: where the rainbows are almost always found.
• Tributaries and headwaters: native brook trout.

How to fish it

Match the caddis with a small tan elk-hair caddis. Other reliable patterns are Hendricksons, parachute Adams, blue-winged olives on overcast days, and ants and beetles, which are abundant on the rocks and overhanging branches. Bushy attractor dry flies work for searching. DNR says flows under about 150 cfs give the best fishing.

Getting there

From I-68 at Grantsville, follow US 219 and US 40 (National Pike) to Casselman River Bridge State Park, where there's public parking and an accessible access point; the park's historic stone bridge is being restored for walkers. Much of the river is bordered by private land, so use signed access points, respect landowners and leave no trace. During the catch-and-release season, fish artificial lures and flies with barbless hooks only. You need a Maryland nontidal fishing license and a trout stamp.