Big Hunting Creek January 24, 2026

Outing:  Little Black Winter Stonefly Hatch on Big Hunting Creek
When:  Saturday January 24, 2026, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Where:  Big Hunting Creek, located in Catoctin Mountain Park near Thurmont, MD.

Don’t forget to renew your Maryland Fishing License and trout stamp. Our January outing will be held at the famous Big Hunting Creek in Maryland, near Camp David.  The stream was fished in the past by presidents Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and the noted angler, Joe Brooks.  This is a catch and release, fly fishing only stream.  It is a small mountain stream that consists of two sections.  The lower section or canyon section, runs downstream from the Camp Peniel Bridge to the Frank Bentz Pond and is characterized by a higher gradient, large boulders, chutes, and deep pools (Bridge Pool, Presidents Pool, Staircase Pools, Stone Wall Pool).  The upper section runs upstream from the Camp Peniel Bridge to Hunting Creek Lake.  This section has flatter areas of pocket water, riffles, runs, and pools (Green drake Pool, Elbow Pool, Pump House Pool, Culvert Pool).  The section, from just below the Camp Peniel Bridge up to the Visitors Parking lot is probably the best section.  There are several parking areas alongside the road that follows the stream.  During the winter, a bright sunny day over 50 degrees can really get the little black winter stoneflies and the fish moving on this creek.  Stonefly nymphs crawl to structures, hatch to adults, and crawl out of the water.  They fly away and then return to the water to lay eggs.  So, both nymphs and adults should be fished.  If there is a large hatch, you will have adult stoneflies landing on you and on the cars trying to get warm.  Fish near the edges of structures and the creek bank.

Of course, depending on weather, dress warm in layers. It can be 10 degrees colder out there than it is here.

Directions: Drive time is about 1 hour 20 minutes from Silver Spring.  Go west on I-70 to Frederick, then take 15 North towards Gettysburg.  Proceed for approximately 14 miles to Thurmont.  At Thurmont take the exit onto Hwy 77.  Turn right (west) at bottom of ramp and proceed into Catoctin Mountain Park.  Continue on Rt 77 to the meeting area at the Camp Peniel Bridge (6571 Foxville Road, Thurmont, MD).

Meeting Area: We will meet at the Camp Peniel Bridge parking area (Cat Rock/Chimney Rock hiking trail parking, 6571 Foxville Road, Thurmont) at 10:00 AM.  The parking lot is on both the right and left sides of the road at the Camp Peniel Bridge (the first bridge which crosses the creek).  I usually park on the right side, it’s the side where the Park Headquarters is located.

Lou and I will be serving a gourmet lunch of Hotdogs & Beans: Head back to the Meeting Area at 12:00 for lunch.  Bring your own drinks, chips, desserts, and extras if you would like to share.  If you are bringing friends or family members, please let us know how many people are attending so we have enough food for everyone.

Fly Fishing Guide to Big Hunting Creek:
There are several pull-offs on the road for angler access to the stream between Frank Bentz Pond, up to the Visitors Center.  
1.    From the Camp Peniel Bridge parking area (Cat Rock/Chimney Rock hiking trail parking), you are able to fish both the Lower and Upper sections of the stream.
2.    Rods:  3 - 4 wt. rods, 7 to 9 feet.
3.    Fly Selection:  Barbless Hooks mandatory.  Small Black Stone Fly nymphs and dry flies #16-20 (Sunny Days), Charlies Nymph #18-20, Brown Stone Fly #14, Black Zebra Midge #16-20, Griffith’s Gnat, Caddis Larva (Olive or Brown) #12-18, Stuart’s Spider, Honey Bug #10-12, Spanish Needle, Prince Nymph, Copper John, Egg Patterns, Green Weenie, San Juan Worm, Wooly Bugger #8-12.

As with all our outings, we welcome new members and those new to fly fishing to come and join us.  We also encourage everyone to bring their friends and family members.  There will be seasoned fly anglers on hand to happily offer assistance to any new members.  More details on the river, and a map of access points can be found in the excellent book “Guide To Maryland Trout Fishing. The Catch - And – Release Streams” written by Charlie Gelso and Larry Coburn, who are fellow PPTU Chapter members.

To Sign-up for the Outing:  Please fill out the Outing Registration Form.

During the outing, please take pictures of fish caught, people, the stream, nature, etc. and send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please contact Ron K.

Ron Kerrick (Assistant Outings Coordinator)
Cellphone: (240) 423-8375
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