Fly Fishing the Upper North Branch

Type: Freshwater
Region: Western
Location: Upper North Branch of the Potomac

I spent an absolutely beautiful fall day out on the Upper North Branch of the Potomac last Friday. The river was low and very clear, but I was able to have a surprisingly successful day of fly fishing.

The whole time I used a size 10 yellow stimulator with a size 18 red copper John about 12" below. The day started with a 12" golden trout rising to the stimulator. It was a nice looking trout and obviously had been feeding as his belly was nice and full.

Just two riffiles up I landed a nice trout on the nymph and it appeared to be a cut-bow hybrid, which I found to be very unusual for the location. It was a fat trout too and fought nicely. 20 minutes later I landed a long and thin rainbow on the stimulator.

Further up, I landed a handful of small brook trout holding in long, deep stretch below where a small feeder stream emptied into the river. I believe with catching the brook trout, I technically completed a "grand slam" on the North Branch should the fish I landed be a cutthroat hybrid.

All in all, it was a beautiful day of fishing, as the other photos can attest.

Tags: golden trout, cut-bow hybrid trout, rainbow trout, brook trout