Garrett County, MD · Reservoir

Savage River Reservoir

A 360-acre reservoir in Garrett County designated as a Trophy Trout Water by MD DNR. Managed for wild and stocked trout; electric-motors-only restriction protects water quality. Very limited shore access — most fishing is by boat or kayak.

Live · updated Jun 11, 10:07 PM ET

Top picks today

Brown Trout & Rainbow Trout — tied at the top (35/100)

2 species tied for best of 3 tracked at Savage River Reservoir.

35 /100

Atmosphere

Air Temp

88°F

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms

Wind

13 mph

Rain

88%

Friday

Pressure

Steady

6-hour trend

Water

Water Temp

68°F

Inland

Flow

18.6 cfs

Steady · +0% / 24h

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

5:48 AM

Sunset

8:44 PM

Moon · 11%

waning crescent

Species at Savage River Reservoir

3 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 2 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.

#1 Brown Trout Marginal conditions for Brown Trout. In season 35/100

What's helping

68°F water — inside brown trout's active range
13 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
Stable flow — settled river level — clearer water, easier wading

What's hurting

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.

Regulations may be out of date

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

Daily creel: 2

Daily creel 2 in aggregate across trout species; possession 4 in aggregate. No minimum size. Same Closure 1 March 8–28 pre-season rule applies. Many brown trout fisheries (Gunpowder below Prettyboy, Savage River tailwater) are Catch-and-Return only or have elevated minimum size — check water-specific regs. Trout stamp required.

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

#1 Rainbow Trout Marginal conditions for Rainbow Trout. In season 35/100

What's helping

68°F water — inside rainbow trout's active range
13 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
Stable flow — settled river level — clearer water, easier wading

What's hurting

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.

Regulations may be out of date

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

Daily creel: 2

Daily creel 2 in aggregate across all trout species; possession limit 4 in aggregate. No minimum size. Put-and-Take "Closure 1" areas are closed March 8–March 28, 2026 (10pm–6:30am) for pre-season stocking. Special Trout Management Areas (Catch-and-Return, Delayed Harvest, Trophy Trout) have their own regulations — verify per water. Trout stamp required in addition to the standard freshwater license.

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

#3 Brook Trout Skip the Brook Trout trip today. In season 0/100

What's helping

13 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
Stable flow — settled river level — clearer water, easier wading

What's hurting

68°F water — above brook trout's active range (40–65°f) — fish move deep
Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach

About. Salvelinus fontinalis — Maryland's only native trout and a conservation priority species. Surviving wild populations are in small, cold headwater streams in Garrett, Allegany, and a few pockets of central/western MD. Small, aggressive, and spectacularly colored — sensitive to warming and habitat loss.

Prefers. Water 40–65°F (ideal 52°F) · either tide · depth 1–10 ft.

Regulations may be out of date

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

Daily creel: 2

Statewide aggregate creel of 2 trout/day applies. MDDNR designates many wild brook trout waters as Catch-and-Return only or Zero-Creel — consult the water-specific rules before keeping ANY brook trout. Treat all native brook trout populations as fragile; catch-and-release is strongly preferred. Trout stamp required.

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

Location Info

Water Body

Reservoir

Access

Boat ramp

Jurisdiction

Maryland non-tidal

Coordinates

39.5248, -79.1389

Notes

Electric motors only — no gas engines. Catch-and-return only for trout during certain periods; check current regulations. Primitive boat launch, no facilities.

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 Savage River Reservoir: Maryland DNR fishing report → · trout stocking schedule → · fish-consumption advisory →

Nearby Access Points

North Branch Potomac River — Luke

5.2 mi

Allegany Co., MD · Shore · River

Jennings Randolph Lake

7.3 mi

Garrett Co., MD · Multi · Reservoir

Deep Creek Lake

7.8 mi

Garrett Co., MD · Multi · Lake

Broadford Lake Park

15 mi

Garrett Co., MD · Multi · Lake

Frequently Asked

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Savage River Reservoir?

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

Savage River Reservoir 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 Savage River 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 Savage River 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 Savage River Reservoir have?

Savage River Reservoir has a public boat ramp. Shore access at this location is limited. Electric motors only — no gas engines. Catch-and-return only for trout during certain periods; check current regulations. Primitive boat launch, no facilities.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Savage River Reservoir?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Savage River 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 Savage River Reservoir tidal water?

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