fishing around Shepherdstown, WV?

[ictalurus]

Does anyone have any recommendations for fishing around Shepherdstown? Trout would be nice, but I'm not picky. I'm going to be at a week long training course at the National Conservation Training Center. The campus is right on the Potomac, so I could probably fish there if all else fails. I probably won't have my yak with me so it'll have to be some place wadeable. I'm not looking for any secret spots, just a point in the right direction. Thanks in advance.

[bignose]

This time of the year?
Trout, way upstream, nowhere near Shephardstown. Way up near Barnum, probably 2 hours to the west.
Possibly some of the Frederick County Streams, Hunting Creek, etc. Still a bit of a haul.
Might have a chance fishing for Walleyes from the power plant in Harpers Ferry, about 10 miles downstream.
Never fished there, myself, this time of the year, but I've heard........

[Greedyfly]

You should take your kayak...
I live in MD about 15 minutes from Shepherdstown. This time of year I would just stop by one of the many strip bars on route 9 instead. But if you really want to fish there's a pubic boat ramp just under the route 34 bridge when you cross over to get into WV. Target walleye and muskie. Fish rapala's deep, bounce them of the bottom rocks for walleye. Slower the better. For muskies fish a bluegill pattern crankbait or big long rapala's.
You can also access the river right below dam #4 on the WV side in Scapple WV. Fish close to the dam for walleye. stay above the boat ramp the water gets real fast and I wouldn't want to try and paddle back upstream. You might be able to access the potomac at NCTC if you ask someone real nice.
As for trout MD is not stocking now. In WV I know they stock the Opequon creek near there but never fished it.

[archeryrob]

What week?

Antietam creek in MD is close and easy to wade. Devils Backbone gets trout dumped in at stocking and it's good wading between the damn and the small bridge down stream over the Little Antietam.

The scrabble boat ramp will be trough to wade at right now. The river is up 3', the water is already fast there and they small power plant releases water right by the WV shore. Plus the bass are really show fishing right now and walleyes are in deep holes a lot.

Greenbrier should be stocking with trout soon. Bill, I live three miles above Antietam battlefield. If you want to get out in a yak on the weekend we can probably get you out. If during the week, you can borrow my commander. If you don't remember me, I am the guy with the Blue Prowler that kept washing up on the seawall trying to unhook a perch for the meet and greet NaySayer ran.

[ictalurus]

Thanks for the info, guys. This might just be a recon trip. I'll probably be at NCTC sometime in the future, so it's worth poking around.

Rob--Yeah, I definitely remember. I'll be there from the Feb. 11 until the 15th. I think I'll probably be in the training course until at least 5pm most days, which won't leave much daylight. I wanted to fish tomorrow before everything started, but I don't think that'll be in the cards after all. The class wraps up at noon on Friday, so I hope to do some fishing before I head back. I'll read up on Antietam Creek, Devil's Backbone, and Greenbrier--one of those might be a good option for Friday.

[bignose]

As of Saturday, the Potomac was at 4.0 feet at Point of Rocks. Usual safe levels there are 2.0-1.75 and that is under summer conditions.
The NCTC is up from the Taylor's Landing area of the Potomac ( my favorite smallmouth area), but you can't access this from the West Va. shore, it's a cliff!
You'd need a yak and it's a 2-3 mile paddle upstream. It may be possible to access the tail water below Dam #4 from the WVa shore area.
Hunting Creek near Thurmont almost always has some trout in it, but is at the far end of Frederick County from where you are going to be.

[archeryrob]

Bill, I am traveling Tuesday and back Thursday afternoon, if you want to try the yak.

Devils backbone is getting 1000 trout in the pre stocking before march 1st and is never closed. Will it happen by then, I don't know, but there is always a few fishing in there. We have caught some in yaks above the dam upstream where people can't get to that actually had orange flesh. So there are some around. I'll try checking Monday or this weekend if the old guys are hanging around. They watch the hatchery on rt 66 for the trucks leaving and follow them.

IMO, the Potomac is only good near the damns soon for Walleye and it's too high right now.

[sebby]

I'm in Frederick, if you guys go out let me know and i will join. I've never paddled Antietam, but fish there for trout all the time.

-Seb

[archeryrob]

Its a great summer time float. Lots of cool spring feed streams flow into it and lots of shade. The creek can be 75 when the river is 85 to 90.

Keep in touch and we'll let you know when we do one.

[Memory Maker]

Plenty of places to shore fish there ....... there is a trail that runs right next to it with plenty of access to the water. As mentioned, there is a boat ramp there too and I think the water is deeper there so you can use a Yak if you have 1 available ......... fished there about 12 yrs ago for a few hours in the summer and caught some small mouth. Little Antietam is right there, just a couple of miles away in the middle of the battlefield. Looks fishy but never fished there.

[archeryrob]

The little Antietam is a youth, Blind, fishery. Make sure you read the regs before trying to hit it. Plus its almost all private land to fish it. Lots of trouble every spring over private land and trout fishing.