Trout Fishing in Maryland

2013 Spring Trout Closure Dates

Closure 0 - No Closure
Closure 1 - March 10 to March 30
Closure 2 - March 24 to March 30
Closure 3 - April 14 to April 20
Closure 4 - April 22 to April 27

Wording from COMAR

Closure 0 - No Closure
Closure 1 - From the first Sunday after March 4 to the last Saturday in March
Closure 2 - From Sunday to Saturday of the last full week of March
Closure 3 - From the first Sunday after April 8 to the following Saturday and
Closure 4 - From the first Sunday after April 15 to the following Saturday


2013 Spring Trout Stocking

(We do not list sites that are closed at time of stocking.)


County Location Date Map
Frederick Owens Creek (Catch & Return) June 6 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Barnum May 28 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Westernport May 28 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River at Oakland May 23 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River at Friendsville May 23 GO >
Allegany Evitts Creek May 21 GO >
Allegany Wills Creek May 21 GO >
Garrett Savage River Reservoir May 21 GO >
Allegany Fifteen Mile Creek May 20 GO >
Frederick Big Hunting Creek (Catch & Return) May 16 GO >
Frederick Friends Creek May 16 GO >
Frederick Owens Creek May 16 GO >
Garrett Bear Creek May 16 GO >
Garrett Savage River May 16 GO >
Frederick Fishing Creek May 15 GO >
Frederick Friends Creek May 15 GO >
Frederick Owens Creek May 15 GO >
Washington Sideling Hill Creek May 15 GO >
Baltimore Little Falls May 14 GO >
Baltimore Gunpowder Falls - Upper May 14 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek May 14 GO >
Allegany Evitts Creek May 14 GO >
Allegany Jennings Run May 14 GO >
Allegany North Jennings Run Watershed May 14 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Barnum May 13 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Westernport May 13 GO >
Garrett Snowy Creek May 10 GO >
Allegany Fifteen Mile Creek May 9 GO >
Howard Little Patuxent River (2 fish/day) May 9 GO >
Montgomery Great Seneca Creek May 9 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek May 8 GO >
Washington Beaver Creek May 8 GO >
Washington Sideling Hill Creek May 8 GO >
Baltimore Gunpowder Falls - Lower May 8 GO >
Baltimore Gwynn Oak Pond May 8 GO >
Baltimore Gywnns Falls May 8 GO >
Baltimore Jones Falls May 8 GO >
Cecil Big Elk Creek May 8 GO >
Garrett Accident Pond May 8 GO >
Allegany Lions Park Pond May 7 GO >
Allegany Wills Creek May 7 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Gorman May 7 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Kitzmiller May 7 GO >
Baltimore Little Gunpowder Falls May 7 GO >
Harford Deer Creek May 7 GO >
Garrett New Germany Lake May 6 GO >
Garrett Piney Reservior May 6 GO >
Garrett Deep Creek Lake May 6 GO >
Baltimore Patapsco River - Daniels (2 fish/day) May 6 GO >
Carroll Piney Run May 6 GO >
Carroll South Branch Patapsco River - Upper May 6 GO >
Garrett Bear Creek May 2 GO >
Garrett Broadford Lake May 2 GO >
Garrett Herrington Lake May 2 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Barnum May 2 GO >
Allegany Dans Mountian Pond May 1 GO >
Allegany Laurel Run (<16, >65 & Blind) May 1 GO >
Garrett Savage River May 1 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek May 1 GO >
Washington Licking Creek May 1 GO >
Montgomery Martin L. King Jr. Pond May 1 GO >
Montgomery Northwest Branch May 1 GO >
Montgomery Pine Lake May 1 GO >
Allegany Jennings Run April 30 GO >
Allegany North Jennings Run Watershed April 30 GO >
Frederick Fountain Rock Park Pond (2 fish/day) April 30 GO >
Garrett Deep Creek Lake April 30 GO >
Baltimore Patapsco River - Avalon April 30 GO >
Baltimore Patapsco River - Daniels - 2 fish/day April 30 GO >
Allegany Flintstone Creek April 29 GO >
Allegany Lake Habeeb (Rocky Gap) April 29 GO >
Allegany Orchard Pond April 29 GO >
Allegany White Sulfur Pond April 29 GO >
Washington Israel Creek April 29 GO >
Garrett Glades Park Pond (Youth & Blind) April 24 GO >
Garrett Parkview Pond (Youth & Blind) April 24 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek April 24 GO >
Baltimore Stansbury Park Pond April 24 GO >
Frederick Cunningham Falls Lake April 23 GO >
Frederick Frank Bentz Pond April 23 GO >
Frederick Hamburg Pond April 23 GO >
Frederick Rainbow Lake April 23 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Delayed Harvest April 23 GO >
Cecil Howards Pond April 23 GO >
Cecil Rising Sun Pond <16, >65, & Blind April 23 GO >
Washington Blairs Valley Lake April 22 GO >
Washington Greenbrier Lake April 22 GO >
Frederick Fountain Rock Park Pond (2 fish/day) April 19 GO >
Montgomery Izaak Walton Pond April 19 GO >
Allegany Evitts Creek Ponds April 18 GO >
Carroll Farm Museum April 18 GO >
Prince Georges Cosca Lake April 18 GO >
Prince Georges Greenbelt Lake April 18 GO >
Prince Georges Lake Artemesia April 18 GO >
Prince Georges Melwood Pond April 18 GO >
Prince Georges School House Pond April 18 GO >
Allegany Battie Mixon April 17 GO >
Allegany Lake Habeeb (Rocky Gap) April 17 GO >
Frederick Carroll Creek (Youth & Blind) April 17 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River - Oakland April 17 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek April 17 GO >
Washington Little Antietam Creek (Youth & Blind) April 17 GO >
Washington Little Tonoloway Creek (Youth & Blind) April 17 GO >
Washington Little Tonoloway Creek - Upper (2 fish/day) April 17 GO >
Washington Israel Creek April 17 GO >
Howard Little Patuxent River (2 fish/day) April 17 GO >
Prince Georges Laurel Lake April 17 GO >
Calvert Calvert Cliffs Pond April 17 GO >
Calvert Hutchins Pond April 17 GO >
Charles Hughesville Pond April 17 GO >
Charles Myrtle Grove Pond April 17 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River (Delayed Harvest) April 16 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River - Friendsville April 16 GO >
Baltimore Avalon Pond April 16 GO >
Garrett New Germany Lake April 15 GO >
Garrett Savage River April 15 GO >
Harford Forest Hill Pond April 15 GO >
Garrett Deep Creek Lake April 12 GO >
Garrett Savage River Reservoir April 12 GO >
Allegany Town Creek (Delayed Harvest) April 11 GO >
Frederick Middletown Community Pond April 11 GO >
Garrett Deep Creek Lake April 11 GO >
Frederick Brunswick Pond (2 fish/day) April 10 GO >
Frederick Urbana Lake April 10 GO >
Frederick Whiskey Springs Pond April 10 GO >
Frederick Woodsboro Community Pond April 10 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Barnum April 10 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Westernport April 10 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek April 10 GO >
Frederick Cunningham Falls Lake April 9 GO >
Frederick Frank Bentz Pond April 9 GO >
Frederick Friends Creek April 9 GO >
Frederick Middle Creek April 9 GO >
Frederick Owens Creek April 9 GO >
Garrett Broadford Lake April 9 GO >
Garrett Herrington Lake April 9 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River Delayed Harvest Area April 9 GO >
Garrett Snowy Creek April 9 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River - Oakland April 9 GO >
Baltimore Little Gunpowder Falls April 9 GO >
Baltimore Stansbury Park Pond April 9 GO >
Allegany Cotton Cove Pond April 8 GO >
Allegany Lions Park Pond April 8 GO >
Allegany Orchard Pond April 8 GO >
Allegany White Sulfur Pond April 8 GO >
Allegany Wills Creek April 8 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Delayed Harvest April 8 GO >
Washington Blairs Valley Lake April 8 GO >
Washington Greenbrier Lake April 8 GO >
Washington Indian Springs April 8 GO >
Howard Centennial Lake April 8 GO >
Howard Elkhorn Lake April 8 GO >
Mongomery Martin L. King Jr. Pond April 8 GO >
Mongomery Northwest Branch April 8 GO >
Mongomery Pine Lake April 8 GO >
Washington Sidling Hill Creek April 5 GO >
Frederick Fountain Rock Park Pond (2 fish/day) April 5 GO >
Garrett Casselman River (Delayed Harvest) April 5 GO >
Garrett Bear Creek April 4 GO >
Garrett Casselman River (Delayed Harvest) April 4 GO >
Prince Georges Cosca Lake April 4 GO >
Prince Georges Greenbelt Lake April 4 GO >
Prince Georges Lake Artemesia April 4 GO >
Prince Georges Tucker Pond April 4 GO >
Garrett Piney Reservoir April 3 GO >
Garrett Savage River April 3 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek April 3 GO >
Washington Little Tonoloway Creek (Youth & Blind) April 3 GO >
Washington Little Tonoloway Creek - Upper (2 fish/day) April 3 GO >
Baltimore Patapsco River - Daniels - 2 fish/day April 3 GO >
Carroll Morgan Run (Catch & Return) April 3 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Gorman April 2 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Kitzmiller April 2 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River (Delayed Harvest) April 2 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River - Friendsville April 2 GO >
Washington Israel Creek April 2 GO >
Washington Little Antietam Creek (Youth & Blind) April 2 GO >
Washington Pangborn Pond (<16, >65 & Blind) April 2 GO >
Washington Sharpsburg Pond April 2 GO >
Mongomery Middle Patuxent River (Delayed Harvest) April 2 GO >
Mongomery Patuxent River (Catch & Return) April 2 GO >
Calvert Hutchins Pond April 2 GO >
Charles Hughesville Pond April 2 GO >
Charles Myrtle Grove Pond April 2 GO >
Charles Wheatley Lake April 2 GO >
Prince Georges School House Pond April 2 GO >
Allegany Evitts Creek April 1 GO >
Allegany Evitts Creek Ponds April 1 GO >
Frederick Big Hunting Creek April 1 GO >
Frederick Carroll Creek (Youth & Blind) April 1 GO >
Frederick Catoctin Crk - Catoctin Crk Park (Delayed Harvest) April 1 GO >
Frederick Catoctin Crk - Doubs Meadow (Delayed Harvest) April 1 GO >
Frederick Woodsboro Community Pond April 1 GO >
Baltimore Patapsco River - Daniels - 2 fish/day April 1 GO >
Mongomery Lake Needwood April 1 GO >
Wicomico/Worcester Beaverdam Creek April 1 GO >
Worcester Shad Landing Pond April 1 GO >
Garrett Parkview Pond (Youth and Blind Only) March 29 GO >
Garrett Jenning Randolph Lake March 29 GO >
Garrett Piney Reservoir March 28 GO >
Garrett Savage River Reservoir March 28 GO >
Washington Little Tonoloway Creek (Youth & Blind Only) March 28 GO >
Baltimore Gwynn Oak Pond March 28 GO >
Baltimore Gwynns Falls March 28 GO >
Baltimore Jones Falls March 28 GO >
Cecil Howards Pond March 28 GO >
Cecil Rising Sun Pond (Youth, Seniors and Blind Only) March 28 GO >
Allegany Dan's Mountain Pond March 26 GO >
Laurel Run (Youth, Senior and Blind Only) Allegany March 26 GO >
Frederick Urbana Lake March 26 GO >
Carroll Taneytown Pond (Roberts Mill) March 26 GO >
Prince Georges Allen's Pond March 25 GO >
Prince Georges Melwood Pond March 25 GO >
Allegany Battie Mixon March 22 GO >
Allegany Lake Habeeb (Rocky Gap) March 22 GO >
Prince Georges Laurel Lake March 20 GO >
Howard Little Patuxent River (2 fish/day) March 20 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek March 20 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River - Oakland March 20 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Westernport March 20 GO >
Garrett North Branch Potomac River - Barnum March 20 GO >
Garrett Glades Park Pond (Youth & Blind) March 19 GO >
Frederick Brunswick (2 fish/day) March 19 GO >
Washington Blairs Valley Lake March 15 GO >
Washington Greenbrier Lake March 15 GO >
Frederick Cunningham Fall Lake March 15 GO >
Garrett Casselman River (Delayed Harvest) March 14 GO >
Frederick Middletown Community Pond March 12 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River (Delayed Harvest) March 12 GO >
Baltimore Avalon Pond (Lost Lake) March 11 GO >
Montgomery Patuxent River (Catch & Return) March 8 GO >
Montgomery Middle Patuxent River (Delayed Harvest) March 8 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek March 5 GO >
Washington Little Tonoloway Creek - Upper (2 fish/day) March 5 GO >
Allegany Lake Habeed (Rocky Gap) March 5 GO >
Frederick Cunningham Falls March 1 GO >
Frederick Frank Bentz Pond March 1 GO >
Frederick Rainbow Lake March 1 GO >
Garrett Casselman River (Delayed Harvest) March 1 GO >
Garrett North Br. Potomac River - Kitzmiller February 28 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River (Delayed Harvest) February 28 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River - Oakland February 28 GO >
Garrett Youghiogheny River - Friendsville February 28 GO >
Allegany North Jenning Run Watershed February 27 GO >
Allegany Jennings Run February 27 GO >
Carroll Piney Run Reservoir February 27 GO >
Howard Elkhorn Lake February 27 GO >
Allegany Town Creek (Delayed Harvest) February 26 GO >
Frederick Catoctin Crk - Doubs Meadow (Delayed Harvest) February 26 GO >
Frederick Catoctin Crk - Catoctin Crk Park - (Delayed Harvest) February 26 GO >
Garrett North Br. Potomac River - Westernport February 25 GO >
Garrett North Br. Potomac River - Barnum February 25 GO >
Frederick Fountain Rock Park Pond February 21 GO >
Baltimore Stansbury Park Pond February 21 GO >
Carroll Farm Museum Pond February 21 GO >
Carroll South Branch Patapsco - Upper February 21 GO >
Carroll Taneytown Pond (Roberts Mill Pd) February 21 GO >
Howard Little Patuxent (2 fish/day) February 21 GO >
Caroline Tuckahoe Creek February 21 GO >
Montgomery Patuxent River (Catch & Return) February 20 GO >
Montgomery Middle Patuxent River (Delayed Harvest) February 20 GO >
Carroll Morgan Run (Catch & Return) February 20 GO >
Allegany Battie Mixon Ponds February 20 GO >
Cecil Octoraro Creek (2 fish/day) February 19 GO >
Baltimore Patapsco River - Daniels (2 fish/day) February 19 GO >
Washington Greenbrier Lake February 19 GO >
Washington Blairs Valley Lake February 19 GO >
Washington Antietam Creek February 19 GO >
Caroline Tuckahoe Creek February 14 GO >
Wicomico/Worcester Beaverdam Creek February 14 GO >
Worcester Shad Landing Creek February 14 GO >
Caroline Tuckahoe Creek February 13 GO >
Howard Centennial Lake February 13 GO >
Caroline Tuckahoe Creek February 12 GO >
Prince Georges Lake Artemesia February 12 GO >
Prince Georges Greenbelt Lake February 12 GO >
Montgomery Lake Needwood February 12 GO >
Calvert Hutchins Pond February 12 GO >
Baltimore Stansbury Park Pond February 12 GO >
Calvert Calvert Cliffs February 7 GO >
Charles Hughesville Pond February 7 GO >
Charles Myrtle Grove Pond February 7 GO >
Charles Wheatley Lake February 7 GO >
Prince Georges Allens Pond February 6 GO >
Prince Georges Cosca Lake February 6 GO >
Prince Georges Melwood Pond February 6 GO >
Prince Georges Tucker Pond February 6 GO >

Help To Stop Poachers

Reminder - If you spot poaching please place a call to our Catch a Poacher Hotline at 1-800-635-6124 - a cash reward is available for information leading to an arrest and conviction of a violator.

Felt Soled Waders and Shoe Ban

Felt-soled waders and wading shoes are now banned in the State of Maryland. Click here to read news item. Further information can be found through our FAQ on the felt sole ban.

Stocking Hotline

During the stocking season updates are posted on the website daily and on the phone line (1-800-688-3467) weekly.


Trout Fishing FYI

Maryland has several locations which are managed as Delayed Harvest Trout Fishing Areas

As the title implies, these locations are restricted to catch and release fishing only up until a specific date. Delaying harvest offers several benefits to anglers, including a larger number of fish to be caught, and these longer term acclimated fish exhibit a more natural trout feeding behavior, allowing fly fishermen to have additional opportunities to test their skills matching hatches on the streams with delayed harvest regulations. In contrast, most put and take streams are "fished down" after several days and the fish that are stocked are often geared toward feeding on pellet food from the hatcheries. Multiple stockings of delayed harvest areas offer trout fishermen a higher success rate over a longer period of time, with the bonus of providing a late spring or early summer five fish creel limit long after most of the put and trout streams have seen peak catches of trout. There are two distinct groups of designated Delayed Harvest Trout Fishing Areas. They are:

Delayed Harvest Trout Fishing Areas

1. Group I
a. Areas:
i. Catoctin and Little Catoctin Creek (Frederick County) from U.S.Route 40 near its intersection with Maryland Route 17 within Doubs Meadow Park downstream to the lower park boundary near Myersville.
ii. Catoctin Creek within Catoctin Creek Park in southern Frederick County
iii. Middle Patuxent River (Howard County) from U.S.Route 29 downstream to Murray Hill Road.
iv. Town Creek mainstem (Allegany County) within Green Ridge State Forest, from a red post located approximately 3/4 mile downstream of the upper ford on Lower Town Creek Road, just south of the Wagner Road intersection, downstream to a red post located just upstream of the lower ford on Lower Town Creek Road (Mallory Place), and from a post located approximately 1/2 mile downstream of Maniford Road to a red post located approximately 1 3/4 miles downstream (Bull Ring Ranch).
b. Restrictions for these areas:
i. From June 1 through September 30, inclusive, the daily creel limit and possession limit is five trout (all species of trout in aggregate), with no tackle restrictions.
ii. From October 1 through May 31, inclusive, a person:
(a) May not have any trout in possession while fishing.
(b) Shall immediately release any trout caught to the water from which the trout was taken.
(c) Except for artificial lures, may not possess or use any natural bait, live bait, or any device enhanced with a scent capable of catching fish in these areas.
2. Group II located on the south side of the Interstate 68 eastbound bridge downstream to the Pennsylvania state line.
a. Areas
i. Casselman River mainstem (Garrett County) from a boundary marked by two red posts on both stream banks
ii. North Branch Potomac River mainstem (Garrett County) from the lowermost boundary of the Potomac State Forest near Lostland Run to the uppermost boundary of the Potomac State Forest at Wallman.
iii. Youghiogheny River mainstem (Garrett County) below Friendsville from a site located 50 yards downstream of Maple Street (at the confluence of Minnow Run) downstream 1.8 miles to the powerline crossing upstream of the Youghiogheny Reservoir.
b. Restrictions for these areas:
i. From June 16 through September 30, inclusive, the daily creel limit and possession limit is five trout (all species of trout in aggregate), with no tackle restrictions.
ii. From October 1 through June 15, inclusive, a person:
(a) May not have any trout in possession while fishing in these areas.
(b) Shall immediately release any trout caught to the water from which the trout was taken.
(c) Except for artificial lures, a person may not possess or use any natural bait, live bait, or any device enhanced with a scent capable of catching fish in these areas.

Whirling and Other Diseases

MDNR is asking anglers to continue to be vigilant about not spreading whirling, other disease and invasive organisms. Please remember to clean your gear between streams or outings to prevent moving around unwanted invaders like didymo and whirling disease. You can wash with dish soap or a 5% salt solution or use one of the convenient wader wash stations if present at your location. For information on how you can help, look below this article and go to Additional Disinfection Methods for Fishing Gear. A detailed synopsis of our 2007 whirling disease testing results and related information is now available at this site. For more information go to The Whirling Disesase Update Page.

Picture of Didymo from New Zealand

An invasive and potentially detrimental algae known as Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) has been identified in the Gunpowder River below Prettyboy Dam. This algae, also known as 'rock snot', can have negative impacts on stream biota such as aquatic insects. It can also hinder reproduction of trout and other fish species.

Anglers and boaters are asked to take the same precautions that were suggested for containing whirling disease and other invasive species.

  • Scrub all gear to remove mud and plants
  • Drain all water from bilges and livewells, don't move water from one area to another
  • We recommend the use of new 'sticky rubber' wading boots to facilitate cleaning, if you must use felts allow them to dry completely before moving to another waterbody
  • Additional Disinfection Methods for Fishing Gear



Other useful web pages with information pertaining to didymo include:

  • www.dnr.state.md.us/invasives/Didymo_Flyfisher_Article.pdf
  • www.dnr.state.md.us/invasives/Didymo_EPA_Fact_Sheet.pdf
  • www.epa.gov/region8/water/didymosphenia/
  • Albert Powell Fish Hatchery

    Currently raises a majority of the fish for Maryland's freshwater trout fishery, check out the hatchery through the video provided. If you can't view the embedded video just go to YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZlTJno8Of0.





    The DNR trout stocking program is funded entirely by the sale of nontidal fishing licenses, trout stamps and Federal Sportfish Restoration Program (Wallop-Breaux) funds which are generated by a special excise tax on boating and angling equipment.