Maryland
North Branch Potomac River at Barnum
Current River Rating
Unavailable
Not enough local guidance to rate conditions.
Low confidence
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is available with the current data.
Why
- This river does not yet have enough local fishing guidance to assign a rating.
Cautions
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Blocking Factors
- Configured water observations are currently unavailable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Latest current reading
- Not available
Monitoring temporarily unavailable. · USGS station 01595800 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
69°F
Feels like
72°F
Wind
5 mph S
Wind gust
12 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 1:15 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.01 in
Last 48 hours
0.12 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 4 AM
Clear
Temp 68°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Sat 8 AM
Clear
Temp 71°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 12 PM
Overcast
Temp 81°F
Chance 26%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Sat 4 PM
Overcast
Temp 80°F
Chance 21%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Sat 8 PM
Partly cloudy
Temp 73°F
Chance 26%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sun 12 AM
Overcast
Temp 69°F
Chance 13%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 81°F / Low 67°F
Chance 31%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 21 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Overcast
High 76°F / Low 60°F
Chance 13%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 14 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Overcast
High 79°F / Low 54°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 7 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 85°F / Low 58°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 7 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
USGS streamgage NORTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER AT BARNUM, WV (01595800). Coordinates are the USGS monitoring-location point in West Virginia. Customer jurisdiction is Maryland; this is one destination, not a West Virginia clone. App-supported continuous parameters currently available: water temperature (00010), streamflow (00060), and gage height (00065). This destination is the Barnum / Westernport delayed-harvest trout tailwater below Jennings Randolph Lake. It is not Potomac River at Point of Rocks and not DC tidal Potomac.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at North Branch Potomac River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Premier Maryland North Branch Potomac trout tailwater at USGS 01595800 Barnum. The gage sits in West Virginia; customer jurisdiction is Maryland and this is not duplicated as a West Virginia destination. USGS provides live water temperature, streamflow, and stage. This record is not Point of Rocks and not tidal Potomac.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Brown trout are a primary North Branch Potomac tailwater target at Barnum.
Source: Maryland DNR
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Rainbow trout are supported on designated North Branch Potomac delayed-harvest reaches.
Source: Maryland DNR
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Tailwater
North Branch Potomac tailwater trout habitat at the Barnum / Westernport corridor below Jennings Randolph Lake.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Fall
Common techniques
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public access is documented by Maryland DNR for the Barnum / Westernport North Branch corridor. Catalog coordinates are the USGS gage point in West Virginia, not a verified Maryland put-in pin.
Stocking information
Maryland DNR manages the North Branch Potomac below Jennings Randolph as a trout tailwater. Confirm current official DNR stocking.
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · Maryland DNR
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · Maryland DNR
Official sources
Gauge geography is West Virginia; fishery assignment is Maryland with border-water disclosure. Do not create a West Virginia clone. Verify current Maryland DNR trout rules before fishing.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Allegany, Maryland
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Allegany
Management Category
Trout stream
Regulation Scope
North Branch Potomac River at Barnum / Westernport tailwater
Regulation Summary
Maryland DNR trout and freshwater regulations apply on designated North Branch Potomac reaches. Confirm current Maryland and, where applicable, West Virginia rules for this border tailwater.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Flow Regulation
Flow can be influenced by Jennings Randolph Lake operations upstream. This note is disclosure only and is not a hydrologic correction model.
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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