Broadford Lake Park fishing conditions · Maryland

Today, 12 pm–6 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 80.

Right now: 70 for smallmouth bass, worth the tripTap 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.

703 am
70
70
706 am
70
70
709 am
70
72
8012 pm
80
80
803 pm
80
80
726 pm
72
70
709 pm
70
70
70Tue
70
70
703 am
70
70
706 am
70
70
709 am
70
70
7012 pm
70
70

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 2 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Mostly Clear
Air: 36°F
Barometer: Steady
Moon: 100% lit

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

Micropterus dolomieu

80Worth the tripToday, 12 pm–6 pm

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. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 12" minimum (or as set by special regulation), 5 bass a day combined with largemouth, kept only Jun 16 to the last day of February. Catch and release is allowed 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

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalToday, 12 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 12" minimum (or as set by special regulation), 5 bass a day combined with smallmouth, kept only Jun 16 to the last day of February. Catch and release is allowed at all times. Bass may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on largemouth bass

Chain pickerel

Esox niger

68MarginalToday, 12 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Chain pickerel bite in 45–80° water, best near 60°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 14" minimum, 5 a day (10 in possession), open all year. May not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on chain pickerel

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalToday, 12 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: no minimum size, 15 a day (30 in possession), open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

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

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalToday, 12 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

9" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal rivers and streams: 9" minimum, 5 a day (10 in possession). Nontidal lakes and ponds: no minimum size, 10 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Feb–Apr, Oct–Dec. More on yellow perch

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

68MarginalToday, 12 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Striped bass bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lakes and ponds: 18" minimum, 2/day striped and hybrid striped bass combined, only one over 30". Keeping striped bass from nontidal rivers and streams is illegal.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on striped bass

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalToday, 12 pm–6 pm

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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 trout areas, which include most stocked lakes, allow 5 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

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

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.40 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:38 am
Sunset today6:23 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

A 140-acre Garrett County impoundment best known for panfish, with largemouth bass, smallmouth near the dam breast and rocky areas, chain pickerel, crappie, yellow perch, stocked tiger muskellunge and striped bass, and rainbow trout stocked each spring.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesMaryland non-tidal
WhereGarrett County · 39.4093, -79.3740

Nearby

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

Deep Creek Lake8 mi · MarylandBest today 11 am–9 pm

86Go

Jennings Randolph Lake13 mi · MarylandBest today 1 pm–10 pm

92Go

North Branch Potomac River — Barnum14 mi · MarylandBest today 12 pm–11 pm

92Go

North Branch Potomac River — Luke15 mi · MarylandBest today 12 pm–12 am

92Go

Savage River Reservoir15 mi · MarylandBest today 11 am–11 pm

80Worth the trip

Youghiogheny River — Friendsville18 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm

72Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Broadford Lake Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Broadford Lake Park 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 Broadford Lake Park?

Broadford Lake Park is listed on this site for 7 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, and 3 more. 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 Broadford Lake Park?

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 Broadford Lake Park 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 Broadford Lake Park have?

Broadford Lake Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Broadford Lake Park?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Broadford Lake Park. 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 Broadford Lake Park tidal water?

No. Broadford Lake Park is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.