Sit it outno chain pickerel window clears the bar in 36 hours
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.
Right now
Chain pickerel range 45–80°
From the northwest
steady · +3% in 24 h
Sunrise 7:28 am
No rain expected
NWS hourly forecast
Measured, last 3 hours
Full
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.
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside chain pickerel's active range. Holds 3–15 ft down.
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
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside crappie's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.
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
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside yellow perch's active range. Holds 5–30 ft down.
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
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.
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
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Below largemouth bass's active range (55–85°F). Holds 3–25 ft down.
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
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Below common carp's active range (52–86°F). Holds 1–15 ft down.
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland non-tidal waters: no minimum size, open year-round, 15 a day and 30 in possession.
Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal
Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.
Season here: Apr–Oct. More on common carp
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
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 · fish-consumption advisory
A Baltimore City water-supply reservoir in northern Baltimore County. Bank fishing year-round with a valid Maryland fishing license. Boats with electric motors are allowed during the boating season (March 1 – December 31) with a separate Baltimore City watercraft permit; no gas or propane motors.
Bank fishing year-round (MD fishing license required). Boats: electric-motor-only with a Baltimore City watercraft permit, March 1 – December 31. Live aquatic bait must be from a state-certified zebra-mussel-free dealer.
Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Prettyboy 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
Prettyboy Reservoir is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
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 Prettyboy 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.
Prettyboy Reservoir has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Bank fishing year-round (MD fishing license required). Boats: electric-motor-only with a Baltimore City watercraft permit, March 1 – December 31. Live aquatic bait must be from a state-certified zebra-mussel-free dealer.
Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Prettyboy 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.
No. Prettyboy Reservoir is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.
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