FRESHWATER FISHING HOTSPOTS
Tuckahoe Lake
Queen Anne's and Caroline Counties

Owner
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Forest and Park Service

History - Ambitious plans for an 800 acre impoundment at Tuckahoe State Park were abandoned by the Department of Natural Resources in 1972 following a feasibility study.  A revised plan instead proposed three lakes ranging in size from 16 acres to 380 acres within the park, and although funds were appropriated, these lakes never materialized.  Today one lake exists created by the damming of Tuckahoe Creek near Crouse Mill Road.  At one time, as with most eastern shore impoundments, Tuckahoe Lake was created to power a grist mill.  The mill no longer exists and only remnants of the original dam remain downstream of the dams present site.  The lake is now used exclusively for recreation, mainly fishing and canoeing.

The Freshwater Fisheries Division of the DNR manages the sportfish populations in the lake to provide a public angling resource.  Fiscal resources for these management activities comes from fishing license sales and the Federal Aid and Restoration Fund (Dingell-Johnson Act).

Physical / Habitat Description - Tuckahoe Lake is 19 acres in size.  Maximum depth is 7 feet near the dam with the remainder of the lake being a rather consistent 5 to 6 feet.  The banks of the lake drop off quickly to the bottom and then the depth remains constant.

The upper portion of Tuckahoe Lake is a vast channelized flooded woodland.  Stumps, root balls, and undercut banks are the common habitats utilized by bass, bluegill and chain pickerel.  The remainder of the lake has limited rooted aquatic vegetation near the shoreline.

Fish Species - Tuckahoe Lake supports a standard bass/bluegill fishery and is managed accordingly.  Good fishing for both these fish species exists within the lake.  Fishing the stumps and roots can yield chain pickerel, an aggressive predator from the pike family.  Anglers may also occasionally catch other species including: white and black crappie, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, brown bullhead and carp.  While not typically targeted by anglers, golden shiners and chub suckers are also present in the lake and provide an important forage source for the predatory fishes.       

Restrictions -Electric trolling motors are permitted on the lake.  Gas motors are prohibited.  Camping and swimming are prohibited.

Directions

Contact us - Any questions, comments or suggestions regarding fisheries management activities on Tuckahoe Lake can be directed to:

Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Service, Eastern Regional Office
Unicorn Lake Fish Hatchery
110 Fishing Lake Lane
Millington, MD. 21651
Phone 410-928-3643
E-mail: customerservice@dnr.state.md.us