Antietam/Red Run, 05/01/25

I have been so excited to fish again with my two buddies, both expert fisherman. Josh and Jeff who guides in MD on the Gunpowder and other streams came up to fish what they say is the “Best wild trout fishery ever”. They both know what can be caught out of here and they mostly wanted to toss streamers for big browns. The water is still in fine shape, stained and 53-56 degrees. Plenty of midges and tan caddis hatching, but not much rising. It was sunny and became a heated 82 degrees. We fished mostly streamers, but hit many planes with nymphs before running streamers. One of us always took the high ground to see what moved or if the guy running the streamer needed to set. All I can say we seen some huge wild browns tail striking streamers. Both Jeff and I watched Josh and we seen something neither us had ever seen or never thought imaginable. Josh had two 20+ inch browns striking at a streamer together. They were side by side chasing it. Josh broke off a huge trout while fish nymphing. Jeff could not believe the four monster browns that tail struck. I can’t count how many wild browns and some rainbows hit the net today. This is by far the best, healthiest water I have ever seen.