It’s a fishing day

Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake fishing conditions · Maryland

Sit it outno largemouth bass window clears the bar in 36 hours

Largemouth bass is the best bet here today.

Frost Advisory until Monday 9 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 43 for largemouth bass, sit it outTap 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. 433 am
  2. 43
  3. 43
  4. 436 am
  5. 33
  6. 33
  7. 339 am
  8. 33
  9. 35
  10. 4312 pm
  11. 43
  12. 43
  13. 433 pm
  14. 43
  15. 35
  16. 336 pm
  17. 33
  18. 33
  19. 339 pm
  20. 33
  21. 33
  22. 33Tue
  23. 33
  24. 33
  25. 333 am
  26. 35
  27. 35
  28. 356 am
  29. 43
  30. 43
  31. 439 am
  32. 43
  33. 43
  34. 4312 pm
  35. 43
  36. 35
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Largemouth bass range 55–85°

Wind
1 mph

From the north

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:30 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
39°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

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

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. 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.

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

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. 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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

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. 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

Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel

Esox niger

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

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

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.42 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:30 am
  • Sunset today6:16 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 · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A 90-acre lake (Clopper Lake) in Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg with a fishing pier, boat rentals, and bank access. Convenient to the DC suburbs with good largemouth bass and crappie fishing.

Day-use entry fee. Boat rentals available in-season. Electric motors only. Fishing pier accessible year-round.

Nearby

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

Monocacy River — Buckeystown13 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 9 am–1 pm
74Worth the trip
Potomac River — Point of Rocks15 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
92Go
Burke Lake Park25 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm–3 pmFrost Advisory
55Marginal
Patapsco Valley State Park — Daniels Area28 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 7 am–1 pmFrost Advisory
55Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper 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 Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake?

Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Chain Pickerel, 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 Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper 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 Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper 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 Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake have?

Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Day-use entry fee. Boat rentals available in-season. Electric motors only. Fishing pier accessible year-round.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper 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 Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake tidal water?

No. Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper 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 Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake?

Day-use entry fee. Boat rentals available in-season. Electric motors only. Fishing pier accessible year-round.