| 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. |
Spring Creek Outfitters
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