It’s a fishing day

Piney Reservoir fishing conditions · Maryland

Today, 5 am–6 amLargemouth bass

The bite peaks at 78.

Log a trip here
Right now: 70 for largemouth bass, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Largemouth 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. 703 am
  2. 70
  3. 78
  4. 706 am
  5. 68
  6. 68
  7. 689 am
  8. 68
  9. 68
  10. 6812 pm
  11. 68
  12. 68
  13. 683 pm
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 686 pm
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 689 pm
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 68Tue
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 683 am
  26. 60
  27. 60
  28. 586 am
  29. 58
  30. 58
  31. 589 am
  32. 58
  33. 58
  34. 5812 pm
  35. 58
  36. 58
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Largemouth bass range 55–85°

Wind
3 mph

From the west

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:37 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
40°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.

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

78Worth the tripToday, 5 am–6 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

78Worth the tripToday, 5 am–6 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

78Worth the tripToday, 5 am–6 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

78Worth the tripToday, 5 am–6 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

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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

78Worth the tripToday, 5 am–6 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: no minimum size, 5 a day (10 in possession), open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on channel catfish

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.47 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:37 am
  • Sunset today6:22 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

Frostburg's 120-acre water-supply reservoir (aka Frostburg Reservoir) near Finzel in northeastern Garrett County. A warmwater fishery with a strong largemouth bass and panfish reputation — crappie and yellow perch — plus hatchery trout stocked spring and fall for a cold-water bonus. One of the region's most popular ice-fishing lakes. Shoreline-only, with a handicapped-access fishing platform.

The City of Frostburg owns the entire shoreline; public shore and ice fishing are permitted. No boating. No fishing along the dam face (posted). Reached from Piney Run Road north of US 40.

Nearby

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

Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows12 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
86Go
Savage River Reservoir14 mi · MarylandBest today 11 am–11 pm
80Worth the trip
Evitts Creek Ponds16 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
68Marginal
Evitts Creek17 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
80Worth the trip
Lake Gordon18 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until 7 am
68Marginal
North Branch Potomac River — Luke18 mi · MarylandBest today 12 pm–12 am
92Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Piney Reservoir?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Piney Reservoir 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 Piney Reservoir?

Piney Reservoir is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, and 1 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 Piney Reservoir?

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 Piney Reservoir 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 Piney Reservoir have?

Piney Reservoir has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. The City of Frostburg owns the entire shoreline; public shore and ice fishing are permitted. No boating. No fishing along the dam face (posted). Reached from Piney Run Road north of US 40.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Piney Reservoir?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Piney Reservoir. 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 Piney Reservoir tidal water?

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