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Savage River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 11, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

Maryland’s trophy trout tailwater: the Savage runs wild browns and brookies in Garrett County.

4/5
Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.
Flow
61 cfs
Air / High
68 / 81 F
Wind
SW 0 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 01597500, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
11
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

4/5Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Savage River feels the season turning: shorter days, grouping fish. The river is running 61 cfs, steady over the week. Today brings cloud cover, wind SW around 0 mph, falling pressure near 1015 hPa and a high of 81. Water sits around 54 F for the season (estimated). With the new moon, the solunar majors run 11:32 PM-1:32 AM and 11:32 AM-1:32 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Rainbow troutExcellent

Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown troutExcellent

Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

Tomorrow: Similar at 84 F with likely rain: fish ahead of the front. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 12, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Before you go

Maryland requires a fishing licence from age 16, from $32.00 for residents. What a Maryland licence costs and where to buy it →

Chasing rainbow trout here? Check the size and bag limits with MD DNR before you keep anything.

Water and weather

Live readings from SAVAGE RIV BL SAVAGE RIV DAM NEAR BLOOMINGTON, MD.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 01597500.

62636461 cfs08/1208/2209/0109/11

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp68 F
High / Low81 / 68 F
WindSW 0-2 mph
Pressure1015.1 hPa, falling
Sky / Rain88% cloud, 56%
Sunrise / Sunset06:53 / 19:31
MoonNew Moon, 0%
Water temp (seasonal)~54 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 11 · Showers, 81/68 F, wind 7 mph, rain 56%

Fair or better. Cloud and a rain chance can stretch the morning bite well past breakfast: keep moving baits tied on.

Species guide

The species that matter on Savage River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Rainbow trout illustration

Rainbow trout

Best: Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

The workhorse of western rivers: riffles, seams and dry-fly eats. Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown trout illustration

Brown trout

Best: Sep-Nov

Wary, predatory and nocturnal by preference. The big ones eat streamers. Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

When to come: the Savage River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Rainbow trout
Brown trout
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 54 F (estimated, not a reading).

30405060JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~54 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Savage River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 10

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 79 F, wind to 10 mph.

Wed, Sep 9

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Rainbow trout led the card at excellent. High of 88 F, wind to 12 mph.

Tue, Sep 8

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Rainbow trout led the card at excellent. High of 87 F, wind to 6 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
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Before you go

License

Maryland requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Maryland license plus trout stamp. The trophy section is catch-and-release, artificials only: verify current DNR regulations and release schedules before fishing.

Access

Savage River Road pullouts along the tailwater through Savage River State Forest; forest roads to the upper river.

About this water

A cold tailwater below Savage River Dam in Garrett County, western Maryland.

Fishing Savage River: the full guide

A small tailwater with big reputation

The Savage River flows through the mountains of Garrett County in far western Maryland, with the reach below Savage River Dam managed as a trophy trout fishery. It is small water, but it holds a genuinely wild population of brown trout alongside native brook trout, and it is one of the best wild trout streams in the mid-Atlantic.

Wild fish and tight rules

The tailwater is managed under strict catch-and-release, artificial-lures-only regulations across its trophy section, and the fish are wild and educated. Small nymphs, careful presentations and fine tippet are the norm. The river is technical: this is not the place for heavy gear or casual approaches, and it rewards patience.

Releases and the seasons

Cold releases from the dam keep the river fishable through summer when other Maryland water warms out, though whitewater releases for paddling raise flows on scheduled days: check before going. Spring and fall fish best. The upper river above the reservoir holds native brook trout in small mountain water.

Garrett County logistics

Access is via the Savage River Road along the tailwater, with parking pullouts through the Savage River State Forest, and the upper river reached by forest roads. Frostburg and Cumberland are the nearest towns of size, and Deep Creek Lake is 30 minutes west. Expect to walk and expect company on weekends.

Common questions

Are the trout wild?

Yes: a genuinely wild brown trout population plus native brook trout, one of the best in the mid-Atlantic.

What are the rules?

The trophy section is catch-and-release with artificial lures only. Verify current DNR regulations first.

Do releases affect it?

Yes: scheduled whitewater releases raise flows on set days. Check the schedule before you go.

Is fishing good at Savage River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Nearby waters

Deep Creek Lake9 miSouth Branch Potomac River24 miYoughiogheny River32 miCheat Lake41 miTygart Lake50 miTygart Valley River55 mi
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