A Sound Sleep and a Single Fish

The Savage and North Branch converge at Bloomington and it's only a few miles upstream from there to Evans's sylvan outpost, Savage River Outfitters, where he runs a small Orvis tackle shop and has two cottages for rent, or will have when the second one is finished late this year. It marks the first time anyone has offered amenities to trout fishermen hereabouts, and it's overdue.

Sheppard, longtime stalwart of Potomac-Patuxent Chapter of Trout Unlimited and a regular visitor to Western Maryland, suggested we try the Savage by ourselves the first evening, then pound the North Branch with Harsh the following morning. He expected plenty of insect hatches and a decent supply of moderate-sized trout on the Savage, then a shot at some big 'uns on the North Branch.

Twenty-four hours later we were making our way home with "chump" written all over us. The Savage was so devoid of insect life -- for reasons unknown -- that even spider webs along the banks were empty. We fished till dead dark with barely a tap from a trout, though Evans said he caught a couple small ones in the pool behind the cottage. Fishing had been excellent the day before, he said.

"I've never seen the Savage so dead," said Sheppard, shaking his head.

Next morning we went charging across the river in Harsh's Hyundai, wading into the rock-strewn North Branch at Barnum on the West Virginia side. Harsh mostly guides anglers from a drift boat, but the water was too low for comfortable drifting and we had deadlines to meet back home, so we waded upstream, casting into pocket water and deep pools on the way.

It was slow going there, as well, as a cool mist hung over the water till noontime and the sun never broke through. Insects were rare indeed -- as were fish. Harsh landed a plump golden trout of about 18 inches and Sheppard pricked a couple of rainbows in the 10- to 12-inch range, but we never saw an insect hatch of any significance and no trout came to the surface to feed.

I was feeling low, having raised nary a strike on dry flies, streamers or nymphs. Departure drew nearer until at least time was all but up. "Three more casts," I told myself, tossing a bead-head nymph into a deep, fast run and watching the strike indicator bob through the chop.

Nothing.

"Two more." Nothing.

"Last cast," I said, resigned to defeat. But as the little fly swung in the current at the end of the drift, a ferocious tap came and a 10-inch rainbow burst from the water, shaking its head, with the nymph firmly embedded in its jaw. Oh, that felt good, proving once again that the biggest difference in fishing is the difference between no fish and one.

Other than that, the best I can say for this trip is it was a lovely sleep, and things are bound to improve.

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Trout fishing should peak from mid-September through early November in the North Branch of the Potomac and Savage River around Bloomington, where most water is designated catch-and-release.

Five services comprise the Western Maryland Professional Guides Association, which specializes in these waters. They are Eastern Trophies (571-213-2570); North Branch Angler (301-387-5314); Sang Run Outfitters (301-387-7331); Savage River Lodge (301-689-3200) and Spring Creek Outfitters (301-616-8123).

Streamside accommodations, tackle and information are available at Savage River Outfitters (301-359-8010).