Burnside Bridge / Battlefield Accesson Antietam Creek
What's working on Antietam Creek
- 01Cooler water temperatures are stimulating trout metabolism and feeding activity.
- 02Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) hatches are becoming more consistent, especially on overcast afternoons.
- 03Subsurface nymphing with mayfly and midge imitations remains highly effective.
- 04Trout are keying into egg patterns as some species begin pre-spawn movements.
What to tie on at Burnside Bridge / Battlefield Access
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Haystack Caddis
Larger caddis adults are active in spring, and this pattern effectively imitates them, drawing aggressive strikes from trout.
Black Woolly Bugger
A slow-stripped or dead-drifted black streamer imitates leeches and sculpins, which are active even in colder spring water, making it a high-searching pattern for larger trout.
Flashback Hare's Ear
An excellent general searching nymph for early spring, mimicking various mayfly nymphs that are active year-round and particularly as BWOs begin to emerge.
Buy at AmazonElk Hair Caddis
Late spring is prime time for caddis activity, and this adult imitation is a staple for rising trout.
Buy at AmazonTellico Nymph
An effective nymph for trout during spring, imitating a variety of subsurface insects.
Klinkhammer
An excellent mayfly/caddis emerger pattern, highly effective during any surface hatch when trout are keying on emerging insects.
Buy at AmazonSan Juan Worm
Year-round effectiveness, especially after rainfall or runoff in spring when aquatic worms are washed into the system.
Buy at AmazonBlue-Winged Olive Comparadun
Blue-Winged Olives are actively hatching in early spring, especially on overcast days, making this low-profile dry fly excellent for selective trout feeding on emergers and adults.
Copper John
A weighted attractor nymph that works well year-round, especially in faster water, to imitate a variety of subsurface insects during summer.
Buy at AmazonMaryland season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Fly shops nearby
Local flies, current advice and guided trips.