North Branch Potomac River

Type: Freestone river, West Virginia (East)
Designation: Catch and release
USGS gauges: 1 live
Guides: None listed
Shops: None listed

Today on the North Branch Potomac River

Good: Good conditions: fish normally

Flow now: 346 ft³/s
Vs normal for Nov 5: Normal
Water temp: 55.4°F (13°C)
Trend: Steady over 24 h
Last reading: Nov 5, 5:25 PM EST

At NORTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER AT BARNUM, WV (USGS 01595800) Provisional USGS data

The North Branch Potomac River is a freestone river in West Virginia and Maryland, listed as Catch and release by West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

More about the North Branch Potomac River

1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow.

Updated 5 Nov 2026 · Sources: Catch-and-Release trout waters, USGS Water Data

Representative photograph of similar water; not a photograph of this place. — Representative photograph, not this water.

Where it is

North Branch Potomac River is a freestone river in West Virginia and Maryland.

Flow now at the gauge

NORTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER AT BARNUM, WV

USGS 01595800 · NWS BNMW2

Good: Good conditions: fish normally

If you're fishing for trout here: 55.4°F now, 56.5°F at most in 24 hours: under the National Park Service's 68°F line (federal guidance; no West Virginia line found). National Park Service
Flow 346 ft³/s: normal for Nov 5, over 42 years of USGS record. U.S. Geological Survey
Cold water, 55.4°F. NWS: cold shock is dangerous at 50-60°F and colder; “Always wear a life jacket in and around the water.” National Weather Service

What the agencies suggest

Carry a stream thermometer. Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperature National Park Service

General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.

Discharge: 346 ft³/s
Gauge height: 3.25 ft
Water temp: 55.4°F (13°C)

Reading Nov 5, 5:25 PM EST · provisional USGS data

Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h

Discharge · last 7 days

Discharge, about hourly
Latest: 346 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:25 PM EST

USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised. Missing hours or days are not filled in.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)	Water temp (°F)
Nov 5, 5:25 PM EST	346	3.25	55.4
Nov 5, 4:30 PM EST	346	3.25	55.8
Nov 5, 3:35 PM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 5, 2:40 PM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 5, 1:45 PM EST	351	3.26	56.5
Nov 5, 12:50 PM EST	346	3.25	56.5
Nov 5, 11:55 AM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 5, 11:00 AM EST	351	3.26	55.8
Nov 5, 10:05 AM EST	351	3.26	55.4
Nov 5, 9:10 AM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 5, 8:15 AM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 5, 7:20 AM EST	355	3.27	54.9
Nov 5, 6:25 AM EST	351	3.26	54.9
Nov 5, 5:30 AM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 5, 4:35 AM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 5, 3:40 AM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 5, 2:45 AM EST	346	3.25	54.9
Nov 5, 1:50 AM EST	351	3.26	54.9
Nov 5, 12:55 AM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 5, 12:00 AM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 4, 11:05 PM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 4, 10:10 PM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 4, 9:15 PM EST	351	3.26	55
Nov 4, 8:20 PM EST	351	3.26	55.2
Nov 4, 7:25 PM EST	346	3.25	55.2
Nov 4, 6:30 PM EST	346	3.25	55.2
Nov 4, 5:35 PM EST	351	3.26	55.4
Nov 4, 4:40 PM EST	346	3.25	55.8
Nov 4, 3:45 PM EST	351	3.26	56.1
Nov 4, 2:50 PM EST	346	3.25	56.5
Nov 4, 1:55 PM EST	346	3.25	56.8
Nov 4, 1:00 PM EST	351	3.26	57
Nov 4, 12:05 PM EST	341	3.24	56.8
Nov 4, 11:10 AM EST	341	3.24	56.8
Nov 4, 10:15 AM EST	341	3.24	56.3
Nov 4, 9:20 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 4, 8:25 AM EST	346	3.25	55.8
Nov 4, 7:30 AM EST	346	3.25	55.8
Nov 4, 6:35 AM EST	346	3.25	55.8
Nov 4, 5:40 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 4, 4:45 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 4, 3:50 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 4, 2:55 AM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 4, 2:00 AM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 4, 1:05 AM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 4, 12:10 AM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 3, 11:15 PM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 3, 10:20 PM EST	346	3.25	56.5
Nov 3, 9:25 PM EST	346	3.25	56.5
Nov 3, 8:30 PM EST	346	3.25	56.5
Nov 3, 7:35 PM EST	346	3.25	56.7
Nov 3, 6:40 PM EST	346	3.25	56.7
Nov 3, 5:45 PM EST	346	3.25	57
Nov 3, 4:50 PM EST	346	3.25	57.2
Nov 3, 3:55 PM EST	346	3.25	57.7
Nov 3, 3:00 PM EST	346	3.25	58.1
Nov 3, 2:05 PM EST	346	3.25	58.3
Nov 3, 1:10 PM EST	346	3.25	58.1
Nov 3, 12:15 PM EST	346	3.25	57.7
Nov 3, 11:20 AM EST	346	3.25	57.2
Nov 3, 10:25 AM EST	346	3.25	56.7
Nov 3, 9:30 AM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 3, 8:35 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 3, 7:40 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 3, 6:45 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 3, 5:50 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 3, 4:55 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 3, 4:00 AM EST	346	3.25	55.8
Nov 3, 3:05 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 3, 2:10 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 3, 1:15 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 3, 12:20 AM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 2, 11:25 PM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 2, 10:30 PM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 2, 9:35 PM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 2, 8:40 PM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 2, 7:45 PM EST	346	3.25	56.5
Nov 2, 6:50 PM EST	346	3.25	56.7
Nov 2, 5:55 PM EST	346	3.25	56.8
Nov 2, 5:00 PM EST	346	3.25	57
Nov 2, 4:05 PM EST	346	3.25	57.4
Nov 2, 3:10 PM EST	346	3.25	57.6
Nov 2, 2:15 PM EST	346	3.25	57.6
Nov 2, 1:20 PM EST	346	3.25	57.6
Nov 2, 12:25 PM EST	346	3.25	57.2
Nov 2, 11:30 AM EST	346	3.25	57
Nov 2, 10:35 AM EST	346	3.25	56.7
Nov 2, 9:40 AM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 2, 8:45 AM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 2, 7:50 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 2, 6:55 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 2, 6:00 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 2, 5:05 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 2, 4:10 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 2, 3:15 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 2, 2:20 AM EST	346	3.25	55.8
Nov 2, 1:25 AM EST	346	3.25	55.8
Nov 2, 12:30 AM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 1, 11:35 PM EST	346	3.25	55.9
Nov 1, 10:40 PM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 1, 9:45 PM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 1, 8:50 PM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 1, 7:55 PM EST	346	3.25	56.5
Nov 1, 7:00 PM EST	346	3.25	56.7
Nov 1, 6:05 PM EST	346	3.25	56.7
Nov 1, 5:10 PM EST	346	3.25	56.8
Nov 1, 4:15 PM EST	346	3.25	57
Nov 1, 3:20 PM EST	346	3.25	57.4
Nov 1, 2:25 PM EST	346	3.25	57.6
Nov 1, 1:30 PM EST	346	3.25	57.6
Nov 1, 12:35 PM EST	346	3.25	57.4
Nov 1, 11:40 AM EST	346	3.25	57
Nov 1, 10:45 AM EST	346	3.25	56.7
Nov 1, 9:50 AM EST	351	3.26	56.5
Nov 1, 8:55 AM EST	351	3.26	56.3
Nov 1, 8:00 AM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 1, 7:05 AM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 1, 6:10 AM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 1, 5:15 AM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 1, 4:20 AM EST	346	3.25	56.1
Nov 1, 3:25 AM EST	351	3.26	56.1
Nov 1, 2:30 AM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 1, 1:35 AM EST	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 1, 1:40 AM EDT	346	3.25	56.3
Nov 1, 12:45 AM EDT	346	3.25	56.3
Oct 31, 11:50 PM EDT	346	3.25	56.3
Oct 31, 10:55 PM EDT	346	3.25	56.3
Oct 31, 10:00 PM EDT	346	3.25	56.5
Oct 31, 9:05 PM EDT	346	3.25	56.5
Oct 31, 8:10 PM EDT	346	3.25	56.5
Oct 31, 7:15 PM EDT	346	3.25	56.7
Oct 31, 6:20 PM EDT	351	3.26	56.7
Oct 31, 5:25 PM EDT	346	3.25	57
Oct 31, 4:30 PM EDT	346	3.25	57
Oct 31, 3:35 PM EDT	346	3.25	57.2
Oct 31, 2:40 PM EDT	346	3.25	57.2
Oct 31, 1:45 PM EDT	346	3.25	57.2
Oct 31, 12:50 PM EDT	346	3.25	57.2
Oct 31, 11:55 AM EDT	346	3.25	56.7
Oct 31, 11:00 AM EDT	351	3.26	56.1
Oct 31, 10:05 AM EDT	346	3.25	55.8
Oct 31, 9:10 AM EDT	351	3.26	55.6
Oct 31, 8:15 AM EDT	351	3.26	55.6
Oct 31, 7:20 AM EDT	346	3.25	55.6
Oct 31, 6:25 AM EDT	351	3.26	55.6
Oct 31, 5:30 AM EDT	351	3.26	55.6
Oct 31, 4:35 AM EDT	346	3.25	55.6
Oct 31, 3:40 AM EDT	351	3.26	55.6
Oct 31, 2:45 AM EDT	351	3.26	55.8
Oct 31, 1:50 AM EDT	351	3.26	55.6
Oct 31, 12:55 AM EDT	346	3.25	55.8
Oct 31, 12:00 AM EDT	351	3.26	55.9
Oct 30, 11:05 PM EDT	346	3.25	55.9
Oct 30, 10:10 PM EDT	351	3.26	56.1
Oct 30, 9:15 PM EDT	351	3.26	56.1
Oct 30, 8:20 PM EDT	351	3.26	56.3
Oct 30, 7:25 PM EDT	351	3.26	56.3
Oct 30, 6:30 PM EDT	351	3.26	56.7
Oct 30, 5:35 PM EDT	351	3.26	57
Oct 30, 4:40 PM EDT	351	3.26	57.4
Oct 30, 3:45 PM EDT	351	3.26	57.7
Oct 30, 2:50 PM EDT	351	3.26	57.9
Oct 30, 1:55 PM EDT	351	3.26	57.9
Oct 30, 1:00 PM EDT	351	3.26	57.6
Oct 30, 12:05 PM EDT	351	3.26	57.4
Oct 30, 11:10 AM EDT	351	3.26	57
Oct 30, 10:15 AM EDT	351	3.26	56.5
Oct 30, 9:20 AM EDT	351	3.26	56.3
Oct 30, 8:25 AM EDT	351	3.26	56.3
Oct 30, 7:30 AM EDT	351	3.26	56.1
Oct 30, 6:35 AM EDT	351	3.26	56.1
Oct 30, 5:40 AM EDT	355	3.27	56.1
Oct 30, 4:45 AM EDT	355	3.27	55.9
Oct 30, 3:50 AM EDT	355	3.27	55.9
Oct 30, 2:55 AM EDT	355	3.27	55.9
Oct 30, 2:00 AM EDT	355	3.27	55.9
Oct 30, 1:05 AM EDT	355	3.27	55.9
Oct 30, 12:10 AM EDT	355	3.27	55.9
Oct 29, 11:15 PM EDT	351	3.26	56.1
Oct 29, 10:20 PM EDT	355	3.27	56.1
Oct 29, 9:25 PM EDT	355	3.27	56.1
Oct 29, 8:30 PM EDT	351	3.26	56.3
Oct 29, 7:35 PM EDT	355	3.27	56.5
Oct 29, 6:40 PM EDT	355	3.27	56.7
Oct 29, 6:25 PM EDT	355	3.27	56.8

What this level means general guidance

Normal for Nov 5: 163–346 ft³/s (middle half of 42 years of record). Now: 346 ft³/s, normal.

Normal for this date. 346 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 42 years of record (1967–2026): 10th 81, 25th 163, median 218, 75th 346, 90th 649 ft³/s.

Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 36 ft³/s, highest 1,020 ft³/s.

Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).

Steady over 24 hours (−1.4% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.

Official flood stage · National Weather Service

NWS observed 3.25 ft stage, 346 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST (NWS gauge BNMW2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).

NWS has not set flood categories for this gauge.

Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.

Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)

Conditions for fishing general guidance

Water temperature for trout, salmon and steelhead

Federal guidance. West Virginia DNR publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a West Virginia rule:

Under the federal 68°F line. Water 55.4°F now; the highest in the last 24 hours was 56.5°F. That is under the 68°F at which the National Park Service, at Grand Teton National Park, recommends anglers stop fishing in the afternoon (“cease fishing at 2 p.m. when water temperatures are likely to exceed 68°F”). Water warms through the afternoon, so check again later in the day: “Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperature.”
High water temperatures prompt fishing advisory in Grand Teton National Park (29 July 2022) (National Park Service)

Species

This gauge is on our page for North Branch Potomac River, but no agency page we read lists its species.

Safety

Cold water. Water 55.4°F. NWS: “Cold shock can be just as severe and dangerous from water temperatures of 50-60°F (10-15°C) as it is from water at 35°F (2°C).” “Always wear a life jacket in and around the water.”
Cold Water Hazards and Safety (National Weather Service)
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)

Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.

Open the USGS gauge page

Checked Nov 5, 6:21 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.

Reading the gauges…

Check any river's flow

Follow North Branch Potomac River for flow alerts

Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.

Follow this water

Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.

Where to fish

Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

West Virginia stream access points

North Branch Potomac River on the map

Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles

Restrooms Access map

Map of North Branch Potomac River with 1 USGS gauge.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restrooms near North Branch Potomac River

Restrooms within 2 miles of North Branch Potomac River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.

Skip the map; every place is in the list below

Map of 2 restrooms near North Branch Potomac River, numbered as in the list, with the water’s point marked.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restroom
1.9 mi away in a straight line
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Directions
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
2.0 mi away in a straight line
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Directions
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map

Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.

More water near North Branch Potomac River

Running well now
Photo credit
The Savage River from the Allegany Bridge, Savage River State Forest. Photo: Aneta Kaluzna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Savage River
Maryland · about 4 mi
Rainbow, brown & brook trout
72.9cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not North Branch Potomac River
Photo credit
The Elk River at the Clendenin access, West Virginia (downstream of the trout water near Webster Springs). Photo: Jcyoung1981 2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not North Branch Potomac River.
North Branch Potomac River
Maryland · about 5 mi
80.4cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Delayed HarvestRepresentative photo · not Casselman River
Photo credit
The Little Juniata River at the 1898 Birmingham Bridge, near Birmingham, Pennsylvania (black-and-white survey photograph). Photo: Jet Lowe, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Casselman River.
Casselman River
Maryland · about 18 mi
44.1cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Youghiogheny River
Photo credit
Big Gunpowder Falls from the Torrey C. Brown rail trail, Maryland. Photo: Henrysz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Youghiogheny River.
Youghiogheny River
Maryland · about 21 mi
69.3cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Blackwater River
Photo credit
The Jackson River in the Hidden Valley, Bath County, Virginia. Photo: Nyttend, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Blackwater River.
Blackwater River
West Virginia · about 29 mi
83.6cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Delayed HarvestRepresentative photo · not Town Creek
Photo credit
Tyrone, Pennsylvania, from the air: Bald Eagle Creek meets the Little Juniata River in the town (the creek is not visible at this distance). Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Town Creek.
Town Creek
Maryland · about 31 mi
14cfsFlow now · normal for the date

Trophy / quality trout water
Photo credit
The Savage River from the Allegany Bridge, Savage River State Forest. Photo: Aneta Kaluzna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Savage River
Maryland · about 4 mi
Rainbow, brown & brook trout
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not North Branch Potomac River
Photo credit
The Elk River at the Clendenin access, West Virginia (downstream of the trout water near Webster Springs). Photo: Jcyoung1981 2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not North Branch Potomac River.
North Branch Potomac River
Maryland · about 5 mi
Delayed HarvestRepresentative photo · not Casselman River
Photo credit
The Little Juniata River at the 1898 Birmingham Bridge, near Birmingham, Pennsylvania (black-and-white survey photograph). Photo: Jet Lowe, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Casselman River.
Casselman River
Maryland · about 18 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Youghiogheny River
Photo credit
Big Gunpowder Falls from the Torrey C. Brown rail trail, Maryland. Photo: Henrysz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Youghiogheny River.
Youghiogheny River
Maryland · about 21 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Blackwater River
Photo credit
The Jackson River in the Hidden Valley, Bath County, Virginia. Photo: Nyttend, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Blackwater River.
Blackwater River
West Virginia · about 29 mi
Delayed HarvestRepresentative photo · not Town Creek
Photo credit
Tyrone, Pennsylvania, from the air: Bald Eagle Creek meets the Little Juniata River in the town (the creek is not visible at this distance). Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Town Creek.
Town Creek
Maryland · about 31 mi

Regulations

Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.

Official designation: Catch and release

Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water.

Catch and release
On the Catch-and-Release trout waters list (West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, read 2026-10-20). All waters with this designation
- See the current Maryland Fishing Regulations for special regulations on the North Branch of the Potomac and Potomac rivers

Public land along it

Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

Jennings Randolph Recreation AreaArmy Corps of Engineers
Allegheny Wildlife Management AreaState Department of Natural Resources
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical ParkNational Park Service · restricted
Fort Hill PreserveNon-Governmental Organization · restricted

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Guides and shops near North Branch Potomac River

Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.

Guides

No guide within 40 miles yet.

All West Virginia guides

Shops nearby

No shop nearby yet.

All West Virginia shops

Plan your stay

Getting there

MGW · Morgantown · 45 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
LBE · Latrobe · 59 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
PIT · Pittsburgh · 94 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)

About this

Miles are straight-line distances, not drive times.
Airports: scheduled passenger service, from OurAirports (public domain) (2026-11-04).
Lodges are listed when their own website talks about fishing. Prices and availability are the lodge's own.

Plan a trip here

None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.

No hub within 40 miles

Plan a trip here

Gear checklist

A practical checklist for fly fishing small mountain trout streams: a short 3–4 weight rod, light line, a few buoyant dries and simple wet-wading gear, with estimated prices and where to buy.

An angler stands on a boulder at the edge of a fast forest stream and fishes the run

Small mountain streams

7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout

Open the checklist

Videos for this water (5)

Watch: reading a trout stream

Seams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

How I Learned to Read Water (Fly Fishing)Embedded from YouTube · Mad River Outfitters · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
How To Read The Water with Tom RosenbauerEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Reading the Water to Successfully Locate TroutEmbedded from YouTube · Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on reading water

Watch: nymphing basics

Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

90° Nymph RigEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Casting with an Indicator & Better Nymphing TechniquesEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on nymphing

Fish Tales

Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with North Branch Potomac River.

No stories from here yet.

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Sources for this page

Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.

Something wrong?

All 11 sources and dates

A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.

Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge NORTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER AT BARNUM, WV. Water type is our own classification.