It’s a fishing day

Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin fishing conditions · Maryland

Now until 4 amBrook trout

The bite peaks at 78.

Log a trip here
Right now: 78 for brook trout, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Brook trout, 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. 783 am
  2. 68
  3. 68
  4. 686 am
  5. 58
  6. 60
  7. 609 am
  8. 58
  9. 58
  10. 6012 pm
  11. 68
  12. 68
  13. 683 pm
  14. 68
  15. 60
  16. 586 pm
  17. 58
  18. 60
  19. 609 pm
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 68Tue
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 683 am
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 686 am
  29. 68
  30. 68
  31. 689 am
  32. 68
  33. 68
  34. 6812 pm
  35. 68
  36. 60
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Brook trout range 40–65°

Wind
5 mph

From the west

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:31 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
41°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.

Brook Trout

Brook trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

78Worth the tripNow until 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Brook trout bite in 40–65° water, best near 52°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–10 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Catch and release only today. 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. Brook trout may not be kept in put-and-take areas or in any nontidal water east of I-81, and may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

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

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

78Worth the tripNow until 4 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. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Catch and release only today. 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

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

70Worth the tripNow until 4 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. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Brown trout feeds less actively under bright moon. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Catch and release only today. 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
  • Barometer30.40 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:31 am
  • Sunset today6:16 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:40 pm–6:40 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

Big Hunting Creek through Catoctin Mountain Park is one of Maryland's signature fly-fishing-only catch-and-release trout streams. Wild and stocked brown and brook trout in tight canopy water — small classic mountain stream fishing within an hour of DC.

Fly-fishing only, single barbless hook, catch-and-release in the regulated zone. No bait. Multiple parking pull-offs along MD 77 through Catoctin Mountain Park.

Nearby

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

Greenbrier State Park11 mi · MarylandBest today 12 pm–5 pm
68Marginal
Antietam Creek — Burnside Bridge19 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
86Go
Conococheague Creek — Williamsport19 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
86Go
Potomac River — Williamsport19 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
86Go
Monocacy River — Buckeystown22 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 9 am–1 pm
74Worth the trip
Potomac River — Point of Rocks25 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
92Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin 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 Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin?

Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout. 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 Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin?

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 Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin 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 Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin have?

Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Fly-fishing only, single barbless hook, catch-and-release in the regulated zone. No bait. Multiple parking pull-offs along MD 77 through Catoctin Mountain Park.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin. 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 Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin tidal water?

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