The Youghiogheny River
Pronounced Yock-ah-gain-ee, the "Yough" as it is known locally was the first river in Maryland to receive the Wild River designation under the Scenic and Wild River Act of 1968. The character of the river changes several times on it's 38 mile northward journey through Garrett County.
South of Oakland the river meanders through pastoral farmland and
wooded lots before the river valley narrows, deepens and becomes
heavily forested. Entering Swallow Falls State Park, the river
becomes a stretch of falls and rapids, dropping 280 feet in
elevation over the next 4 miles. It plunges past one of the state's
last remaining stands of giant virgin hemlock, as well as it's
highest waterfall, Muddy Creek Falls. As it nears Hoyes Run, the
river's gradient becomes less steep with an average drop of 10 feet
per mile. The next six miles of riffles and pools is some of the
finest dry fly water found anywhere. Cold water releases from Deep
Creek Lake hydroelectric station allow this section of the river to
support an incredible number of brown and rainbow trout. Excellent
hatches of caddies and mayflies can be found on this stretch of
water, and anglers fortunate enough to catch one of the green drake
spinner falls are in for an evening they will never forget. Near
Gap Falls the river's rate of descent increases dramatically, and in
some areas exceeds more than 100 feet per mile. This long stretch
of class V whitewater is the last big drop before the river levels
out and it's flow is halted by the Youghiogheny Reservoir.
I am now offering float trips on the middle Yough from Conflunce, PA
to Ohiopile, PA. It is a wonderful 9 mile float on a great
tailwater. There will be a new Delayed Harvest area on the Yough in
Friendsville, MD. starting in January 2007. This fishery will be set
up the same as the Casselman River in Grantsville, MD
