Washington County offers plentiful fishing opportunities in its meandering waterways. Fishermen can more often than not go home happy after spending time on well-stocked creeks and lakes, thanks to Maryland’ s Department of Natural Resources( DNR), which stocks trout each year.“ The stocking program provides trout fishing recreation in waters that wouldn’ t have opportunities otherwise,” says John Mullican, Maryland DNR manager and biologist for the western region.“ Over 90 percent are caught,” shares Marshall Brown of Albert Powell Trout Hatchery.“ Maryland’ s‘ put and take’ trout stocking program gives anglers an enjoyable recreational outlet and opportunity to enjoy being outdoors.” And enjoy it they do! Many area fishermen— and women— love casting lines into Washington County’ s waterways, allowing them to spend time with family and friends, make some pretty impressive catches, and achieve lasting memories with plenty of“ fish tales” to share.
“ ALWAYS A STORY” Russ Neff jokes,“ I go after anything that swims.” Russ began fishing the Antietam in the 1950s. He passed his love of fishing on to his son and the children he coached through baseball.“ I still enjoy sport fishing with Kevin Gladhill, one of my players.” Russ enjoys trout fishing in the Antietam.“ The best trout fishing I have is late fall or early winter. I have caught some really big browns in moving water just below rocky riffles on minnow-looking lures and small spinners. The best place on the Antietam is around Devil’ s Backbone. You can wade through a lot of the water and there’ s lots of parking.”
Russ’“ reel” adventures lead to many memorable nature encounters, including coming face-to-face with a herd of deer, witnessing a swimming bear, and surviving the capsizing of a friend’ s boat on the Chesapeake Bay.( Russ cautions fishermen to always wear a Personal Flotation Device [ PFD ].“ It saves lives. There’ s no time to put one on when trouble comes. My Pap always said when things go bad, they go bad real fast.”)“ My grandpap used to ask about my fishing because he knew there was always a story.” His most memorable catch is his personal best and most recent: a whopping 42-inch muskie.“ After eight casts I had a hookup like a freight train. I was chasing this monster with the trolling motor, all while grabbing a net from under gear and knowing the hook could come free. But I landed him! My heart felt like it would burst. What a rush!”
BAIT & SWITCH Rebecca Hockman is no stranger to the outdoors. Also an avid hunter, she spent countless hours fishing with her family as a youngster and still treks to the very same pond to relax and unwind. Rebecca’ s favorite fishing holes include her special pond and the Potomac River.“ I love the quiet and being outside. You can enjoy nature’ s peacefulness and beauty.” Her most memorable catch occurred when she set her rod down on the bank at her favorite pond. Her line moved, and she noticed a tiny sunfish.“ This fish was so light a 5 year old could bring it i n. I was leisurely reeling when suddenly it was swallowed by a 4-pound largemouth bass. I never caught a fish with another fish before!”
50 March / April 2013 Hagerstown: The Best of Life in Washington County & Beyond