It's a Fishing Day

Garrett County, MD · Lake

Deep Creek Lake

Garrett County, MD

Maryland's largest freshwater lake at ~3,900 acres in the Garrett County mountains. Multiple public boat ramps and shoreline access points around the lake. A year-round fishery with deep, clear water.

Live · updated

Top picks today

Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye & Muskellunge — tied at the top (41/100)

4 species tied for best of 10 tracked at Deep Creek Lake.

41 /100
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Atmosphere

Air Temp
79°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind
14 mph
W
Rain
90%
Friday
Pressure
Steady
6-hour trend

Water

Water Temp
71°F
Inland

Sun & Moon

Sunrise
5:49 AM
Sunset
8:44 PM
Moon · 11%
waning crescent

Species at Deep Creek Lake

10 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 4 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.

#1 Largemouth Bass Marginal conditions for Largemouth Bass. In season 41/100

What's helping

  • 71°F water — right in largemouth bass's ideal range
  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Micropterus salmoides — Most popular gamefish in MD non-tidal waters. Ambush predator around cover — lily pads, submerged timber, docks, grass edges. Hits plastics, spinnerbaits, jigs, and topwater across the season.

Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · either tide · depth 3–25 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Min size
12"
Daily creel
5

Non-tidal MD: 12-inch minimum, 5 per day in aggregate with smallmouth bass. Harvest season is June 16 through the last day of February. March 1–June 15 is catch-and-release only to protect the spawn. Some waters have special regulations (slot limits, lower creel) — check the water-specific page.

Source: Maryland non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#1 Smallmouth Bass Marginal conditions for Smallmouth Bass. In season 41/100

What's helping

  • 71°F water — right in smallmouth bass's ideal range
  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Micropterus dolomieu — Premier gamefish of the non-tidal Potomac, the Upper Susquehanna, and Deep Creek Lake. Pound-for-pound one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish. Hits tubes, crayfish imitations, spinnerbaits, and topwater poppers.

Prefers. Water 55–78°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 3–30 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Min size
12"
Daily creel
5

Non-tidal MD: 12-inch minimum, 5 per day in aggregate with largemouth bass. Harvest season is June 16 through the last day of February. March 1–June 15 is catch-and-release only. Special regulations apply on sections of the non-tidal Potomac — check site-specific rules.

Source: Maryland non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#1 Walleye Marginal conditions for Walleye. In season 41/100

What's helping

  • 71°F water — inside walleye's active range
  • Dark moon — walleye feeds aggressively in low light
  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Sander vitreus — Maryland's premier cool-water gamefish. Deep Creek Lake is the flagship fishery; also found in the non-tidal Potomac and the Youghiogheny River. Low-light feeder — dusk, dawn, and overcast/windy days are prime. Jigs, crankbaits, and nightcrawler harnesses are standard.

Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · either tide · depth 10–40 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Min size
15"
Daily creel
5

Statewide: 15-inch minimum, 5 per day. Deep Creek Lake has an 18–21 inch protected slot (all fish in slot must be released) AND is closed March 1–April 15. Potomac River has a 20-inch protected-slot provision Jan 1–Apr 15 in some sections. Verify water-specific regulations before keeping any fish.

Source: Maryland non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#1 Muskellunge Marginal conditions for Muskellunge. In season 41/100

What's helping

  • 71°F water — right in muskellunge's ideal range
  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Esox masquinongy — The "fish of 10,000 casts." MD's primary fisheries are Deep Creek Lake and the upper non-tidal Potomac. Apex freshwater predator that hits oversize glide baits, bucktails, and live suckers. Tiger muskie (musky × northern pike hybrid) regulated identically.

Prefers. Water 55–78°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 10–40 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Min size
36"
Daily creel
1

Non-tidal MD: 36-inch minimum, 1 per day. Open year-round. Same regulation applies to muskellunge and tiger muskellunge. Deep Creek Lake and the upper non-tidal Potomac are the primary fisheries.

Source: Maryland non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#5 Crappie Skip the Crappie trip today. In season 29/100

What's helping

  • 71°F water — inside crappie's active range
  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Pomoxis spp. — Covers both black crappie (P. nigromaculatus) and white crappie (P. annularis). Schooling panfish around brush, docks, and submerged timber. Spring pre-spawn is the prime season — small minnows and 1/16-oz jigs are the go-to.

Prefers. Water 50–80°F (ideal 65°F) · either tide · depth 3–20 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Daily creel
15

Non-tidal MD: no minimum size, 15 per day in aggregate (black + white crappie). Open year-round.

Source: Maryland non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#5 Chain Pickerel Skip the Chain Pickerel trip today. In season 29/100

What's helping

  • 71°F water — inside chain pickerel's active range
  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Esox niger — Native toothy predator of mill ponds, blackwater rivers, and grassy shorelines — especially common on the Eastern Shore. Hits spinners, spoons, and minnow plugs aggressively. Cold-weather fishery when bass have shut down.

Prefers. Water 45–80°F (ideal 60°F) · either tide · depth 3–15 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Min size
14"
Daily creel
5

Non-tidal MD: 14-inch minimum, 5 per day. Open year-round.

Source: Maryland non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#5 Channel Catfish Skip the Channel Catfish trip today. In season 29/100

What's helping

  • 71°F water — inside channel catfish's active range
  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Ictalurus punctatus — Native catfish of MD non-tidal rivers, reservoirs, and farm ponds. Bottom-feeder that takes chicken liver, stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and cut bait. Most active at night and in warm water.

Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 75°F) · either tide · depth 5–30 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →

Daily creel
5

Non-tidal MD: no minimum size, 5 per day, open year-round. Standard freshwater fishing license required.

Source: Maryland non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.

#8 Rainbow Trout Check local Rainbow Trout regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 0/100
Regulations not yet verified

We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Rainbow Trout in MD on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.

What's helping

  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • 71°F water — above rainbow trout's active range (45–68°f) — fish move deep
  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Oncorhynchus mykiss — The most heavily stocked trout in Maryland. Put-and-take fisheries across the state plus holdover/wild fish in Western MD streams (Savage, Youghiogheny tailwater, Gunpowder). Takes PowerBait, small spinners, and standard dry/nymph patterns.

Prefers. Water 45–68°F (ideal 55°F) · either tide · depth 3–20 ft.

No regulations on file for Maryland non-tidal / non-tidal. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.

#8 Brown Trout Check local Brown Trout regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 0/100
Regulations not yet verified

We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Brown Trout in MD on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.

What's helping

  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • 71°F water — above brown trout's active range (45–68°f) — fish move deep
  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Salmo trutta — Naturally reproduces in the Gunpowder River tailwater (Loch Raven below Prettyboy) and several Western MD streams; also heavily stocked. Typically more wary than rainbows. Classic mayfly hatches on the Gunpowder — sulphurs, BWOs, caddis. Streamer-eaters after dark.

Prefers. Water 45–68°F (ideal 55°F) · either tide · depth 3–25 ft.

No regulations on file for Maryland non-tidal / non-tidal. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.

#8 Yellow Perch Check local Yellow Perch regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 0/100
Regulations not yet verified

We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Yellow Perch in MD on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.

What's helping

  • 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

What's hurting

  • 71°F water — above yellow perch's active range (45–70°f) — fish move deep
  • incoming tide — yellow perch prefers slack tide
  • Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Perca flavescens — Late-winter and early-spring favorite. Schools up in tidal tributaries for the pre-spawn run in February and March, taking small minnows, shad darts, and small jigs. A classic Eastern Shore "neds" fishery.

Prefers. Water 45–70°F (ideal 58°F) · slack tide · depth 5–30 ft.

No regulations on file for Maryland non-tidal / non-tidal. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.

Location Info

Water Body

Lake

Access

Pier, shore, and ramp

Jurisdiction

Maryland non-tidal

Coordinates

39.5039, -79.2834

Notes

State Park day-use fee at the main state park area. Many access points are free. Lake freezes in winter — ice fishing popular.

What anglers are reporting

From the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report, published May 27, 2026 · 15 days old — a newer report may be available.

Freshwater Fishing

Maryland’s spring trout stocking season is now complete. Stocking began in February and wrapped up on May 18. A total of 254,810 trout were stocked; 182,260 trout were stocked into open waters and 72,550 stocked under the closure period. Trout were stocked into 118 waterbodies, including 53 streams and rivers and 65 lakes and ponds. The next period of regular trout stocking will begin in October. Due to warming water temperatures, some delayed harvest trout management waters (known as Group I) in the central and parts of the western region will open to trout harvest from June 1 to September 30.

Species mentioned: trout

Excerpts are anecdotal and reflect a single week's observations from DNR biologists and reporting anglers — not predictions. Use as one signal among many; verify against current conditions before planning a trip.

Local reports & rules for Deep Creek Lake: Maryland DNR fishing report → · trout stocking schedule → · fish-consumption advisory →

Nearby Access Points

Savage River Reservoir

7.8 mi

Garrett Co., MD · Ramp · Reservoir

Broadford Lake Park

8.1 mi

Garrett Co., MD · Multi · Lake

Jennings Randolph Lake

10 mi

Garrett Co., MD · Multi · Reservoir

North Branch Potomac River — Luke

10 mi

Allegany Co., MD · Shore · River

Frequently Asked

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Deep Creek Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Deep Creek Lake 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 Deep Creek Lake?

Deep Creek Lake is listed on this site for 10 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, and 6 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 Deep Creek Lake?

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 Deep Creek Lake 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 Deep Creek Lake have?

Deep Creek Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. State Park day-use fee at the main state park area. Many access points are free. Lake freezes in winter — ice fishing popular.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Deep Creek Lake?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Deep Creek Lake. 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 Deep Creek Lake tidal water?

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

Is there parking or an entry fee at Deep Creek Lake?

State Park day-use fee at the main state park area. Many access points are free. Lake freezes in winter — ice fishing popular.

Data from NOAA, NWS, MD DNR

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