A LIFETIME LOVE Fly-fishing expert and writer Lefty Kreh began his lifelong fishing passion growing up in Frederick, Md. While Lefty’ s distinguished career has led him on countless global fishing adventures— including expeditions with Ernest Hemingway and Fidel Castro— some of his fondest memories include fishing with buddies Ed Lewis and Butch Ward.
Lefty’ s favorite local spots are Beaver Creek and Little Antietam Creek.“ Beaver Creek is fed by a large spring and is just a wonderful place, probably the best trout stream in central Maryland. Little Antietam was always really good, even before it became a stocking site. The vegetation and insect life really support trout growth.” His memorable early catch occurred in 1952 on Beaver Creek.“ I happen to reel in the most beautifully colored 20-inch brown trout,” he reminisces.“ It was right around spawning season, and this fellow was just gorgeous. Browns usually run 8 to 14 inches, so this one was pretty big.”
REEL SCIENCE Ed Lewis grew up with Washington County waterways in his blood.“ I grew up with canal boat captains and was one of the first fishing guides in the state.” He began fishing stocked trout streams as a teenager while his parents hunted mushrooms.“ My favorite area back then was St. James Run.” Ed fishes all types of species and remembers trying to catch an especially elusive brown trout in the Horse Back rapids of the Potomac River.“ There was a lot of clear water and shallow ledges. I tried to catch it but didn’ t get it.” His perseverance paid off with a 5-pound rainbow trout instead.
Through careful, meticulous observation during his fishing journeys through the years and his education, Ed is able to distinguish species’ behavior and their subsequent adaptations to various waterway conditions, weather and lures used to maximize his take.“ It’ s all about the science. That’ s what makes a fisherman successful.” Ed likes the area below Molly’ s Hole near Burnside Bridge for rainbow trout.“ It’ s a wonderfully cold water stream that maintains constant temperature.” Conococheague Creek has a lot of small-mouth trophy bass, and Antietam Creek near Devil’ s Backbone offers many opportunities to catch evasive, trophy-sized trout.
THE‘ FUNNY FISH’ Mark Hutzell loves fly-fishing and is beginning to share his favorite pastime with his 2-year-old daughter. During a fall outing to spot deer and see colorful foliage, they stopped at a favorite creek to see if Mark could catch a trout.“ I quickly hooked and landed a stocked rainbow trout. We were both very excited.
This was the first time she had seen a trout. She touched it and it flopped, causing her to laugh and call it a‘ funny fish.’ I quickly returned it and we watched it swim away. She couldn’ t wait to go home and tell mom about the‘ funny fish.’ It was a morning fishing experience I’ ll never forget.”
Mark also enjoys trout fishing Antietam Creek at Devil’ s Backbone. His most memorable time there was a winter fly-fishing trip with a friend after a 2-foot wet snowfall.“ The scenery was breathtaking. Although we didn’ t catch a trout that day, just being outside with the snow blanketing the ground and surrounding trees was picture perfect.”
FISHING FOREVER Bob Davis began enjoying the sport with his grandfather. For the past 23 years, his focus has been catch-and-release flyfishing.“ This past year I fished 45 days in various streams. My favorite places to fish stocked streams are Beaver Creek below U. S. Route 40 and the Antietam Creek below Devil’ s Backbone Park. These areas hold fish for some time after the crowds fade.”
Bob’ s most memorable catch was in an unnamed stream.“ This fish may have been a holdover from previous years. It was an 18-inch rainbow trout with very bright colors and no signs of living in the concrete troughs at the hatchery.” He has
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