This will be a short post as it does not take many words to say a place absolutely sucks. In fact, I cannot believe that the Maryland DNR actually dumps 2,000 trout into this stagnant trickle of water.
Last year, I worked through Gelso’s book to visit all of the special regulation areas in Maryland. This year, I decided to also work through the comprehensive list of locations provided by the Maryland DNR stocking table.
Severn Run was close, I did not have much time, so I headed out for it on a bright sunny day in late March. There are three key places where the creek crosses the road. One is at Dicus Mill Road, another at New Cut Road and the final at Burns Crossing road. I came in from the south and drove over the small bridge on Dicus and the red flags went up. While there were at least 5 trucks huddled around the small turnout, the water here was about 2 inches deep and 5 feet across.
Worried, but still optimistic, I decided to split the difference and fish downstream from the New Cut crossing. Like Dicus, there were a few other trucks there when I arrived, but I was committed. I had to check it out. Hopping out of the truck, my heart sank when I gazed at the trickle of water below. This looked like a runoff from your driveway after washing your truck rather than a creek.
The creek is framed by steep banks that are about 6 feet high. To get into the creek, you need to pick your approach and you will be stuck in it until you find another gentle spot to climb out. In between the entrance and the exit, you will dodge and climb over plenty of fallen timber. Not an easy walk.
The water was low and slow. At each bend, it pooled up – sometimes in spots a foot or two deep, but most of the run was a shallow trickle. The technique to fish this is to walk the bank, cutting your way through an intense thicket of clinging pricker vines to look for fish. If you just start casting as you work your way upstream, you would waste time as your fly or spinner would dig into the mud in most places.
I ran into another pair of fisherman and chatted with them. They had found one hole where there were a few sad fish remaining. Those fish were stubborn survivors and refused anything that pair could throw at them to include ignoring powerbait bounced off their noses.
I continued downstream looking for fish and gave up after walking 3/4 mile. The vines were intense, I could not imagine how any stocked fish would get this far downstream given the water levels
This was a loser. If trout were stocked here, I bet folks just pick them up – the water is sooooo low and sloooooow that it can’t be much of a challenge.
Severn Run Trout Fishing Bottom Line: Never again.
Getting There: Take the Benfield exit from I97 and head west. Turn left on Najoles Road and then right on Dicus Mill Road. Turn right on Gambrills road and then, after a 1/2 mile or so, veer right on New Cut Road (Gambrills dead ends there). Stop at the bridge and weep at what you see.
Secrets Revealed? No. This is a very public location that is documented in the following places: Maryland DNR
Small indication of the pressure
Looks sad, very sad
Stagnant looking shallow pools of a foot or so
Steep banks, plenty of timber in the water.
Unless stated otherwise, this article was authored by Steve Moore