It’s a fishing day

Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge fishing conditions · Maryland

Now until 7 amSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 86.

Log a trip here
Right now: 86 for smallmouth bass, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 863 am
  2. 86
  3. 86
  4. 866 am
  5. 76
  6. 76
  7. 769 am
  8. 76
  9. 76
  10. 7612 pm
  11. 78
  12. 78
  13. 783 pm
  14. 78
  15. 76
  16. 766 pm
  17. 76
  18. 76
  19. 769 pm
  20. 76
  21. 76
  22. 76Tue
  23. 76
  24. 76
  25. 763 am
  26. 76
  27. 76
  28. 766 am
  29. 76
  30. 76
  31. 769 am
  32. 76
  33. 76
  34. 7612 pm
  35. 76
  36. 76
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
1 mph

From the south

Flow
98.4 cfs

steady · -3% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:32 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
37°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Maryland non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

86GoNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Smallmouth bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 12" minimum, 5 bass a day combined, kept only Jun 16 to the last day of February; catch and release at all times. Bass may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on smallmouth bass

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

74Worth the tripNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland statewide trout rule: 2 a day in any combination (4 in possession), no minimum size, open all year. Put-and-take areas and special trout management areas have their own rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov. More on rainbow trout

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland non-tidal waters: no minimum size, open year-round, 15 a day and 30 in possession. Trout-water gear and bait rules still apply.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on common carp

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

66MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Brown trout feeds less actively under bright moon. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland statewide trout rule: 2 a day in any combination (4 in possession), no minimum size, open all year. Put-and-take areas and special trout management areas have their own rules. Brown trout may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River98.4 cfs · steady · -3% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.40 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:32 am
  • Sunset today6:17 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:50 pm–6:50 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Maryland DNR, Oct 14

Freshwater Fishing. The fall trout stocking program continues this week with new locations being stocked. Anglers should keep in mind that not every trout management water will be stocked and are encouraged to check the most updated stocking list on the trout stocking website . The stockings are posted on the afternoon of each stocking day. Fishing for smallmouth bass in the upper Potomac is being enjoyed by anglers this week. Cooler water temperatures are more comfortable for smallmouth bass, and they are actively feeding on baitfish and crayfish. Tubes, small crankbaits, and soft plastic swimbaits are all good choices when fishing current breaks and underwater ledges and boulders.

Quoted from the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report. Reports are what anglers and biologists saw that week, not a forecast.

Licenses and rules: MD DNR · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Antietam Creek through Antietam National Battlefield is a stocked-trout stream in spring — rainbow and brown — that turns to a smallmouth fishery in summer. Bank access along Burnside Bridge Road and across NPS lands; quiet wading water in low flows.

Stocked by MD DNR multiple times each spring. Standard MD non-tidal regulations apply on NPS lands. Free access; park at Burnside Bridge or the battlefield visitor center.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Greenbrier State Park8 mi · MarylandBest today 12 pm–5 pm
68Marginal
Potomac River — Williamsport11 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
86Go
Conococheague Creek — Williamsport11 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
86Go
Potomac River — Point of Rocks17 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
92Go
Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin19 mi · MarylandBest now until 4 am
78Worth the trip
Monocacy River — Buckeystown19 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 9 am–1 pm
74Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge you need a Maryland non-tidal fishing license issued by MD DNR (and a separate Maryland trout stamp if targeting trout in non-tidal waters). See the agency's current rules: https://dnr.maryland.gov/pages/service_fishing_license.aspx

What fish are commonly targeted at Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge?

Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Common Carp. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge have?

Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Stocked by MD DNR multiple times each spring. Standard MD non-tidal regulations apply on NPS lands. Free access; park at Burnside Bridge or the battlefield visitor center.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge tidal water?

No. Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.