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PLEASE NOTE: Fisheries was unable to stock several areas due to ice and/or inability to get the truck in to stock. The areas not stocked were:
Western Region:
North Branch Potomac River - Delayed Harvest Area
Broadford Lake
Herrington Lake
Deep Creek Lake
Also, Muddy Creek was only stocked at the lower end upstream of the falls.
All other CLOSED areas were stocked for opening day tomorrow.
Attention Angler's of the Northwest Branch - The trout normally reserved for Kemp Mill will be stocked at downstream locations on the Northwest Branch during 2013. Maryland DNR will not stock trout at the Kemp Mill Rd bridle trail location on Northwest Branch in Montgomery County due to the trail being washed out by flooding. The trail is currently too narrow and dangerous to drive the stocking truck near the stream. Maryland National Park and Planning Commission is working to restore the trail access but weather delays have slowed progress on the repair. Northwest Branch will receive the normal numbers of trout for stocking.
The printed copy of the 2013 Spring Trout Stocking Schedule list the Little Patuxent River (2 fish/day) under Closure 2, this is not true - the Little Patuxent is under Closure 0 - no closure.
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 | 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 Ia. 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. Areasi. 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.
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:
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.