It’s a fishing day

Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows fishing conditions · Maryland

Now until 7 amSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 86.

Log a trip here
Right now: 86 for smallmouth bass, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth 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. 863 am
  2. 86
  3. 86
  4. 866 am
  5. 76
  6. 76
  7. 769 am
  8. 76
  9. 76
  10. 7612 pm
  11. 76
  12. 76
  13. 783 pm
  14. 78
  15. 78
  16. 786 pm
  17. 78
  18. 78
  19. 789 pm
  20. 78
  21. 76
  22. 76Tue
  23. 76
  24. 76
  25. 763 am
  26. 76
  27. 76
  28. 766 am
  29. 76
  30. 76
  31. 769 am
  32. 76
  33. 76
  34. 7612 pm
  35. 76
  36. 76
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
1 mph

From the west

Flow
56.1 cfs

steady · -6% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:36 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
38°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.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

86GoNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

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.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 12" minimum, 5 bass a day combined, kept only Jun 16 to the last day of February; catch and release 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

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

74Worth the tripNow until 7 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. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. 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 areas and special trout management areas have their own rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov. More on rainbow trout

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalNow until 7 am

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. Trout-water gear and bait rules still apply.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on common carp

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

66MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Brown trout feeds less actively under bright moon. Holds 3–25 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 areas and special trout management areas have their own rules. Brown trout may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River56.1 cfs · steady · -6% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.47 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:36 am
  • Sunset today6:21 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

Wills Creek cuts through the Cumberland Narrows, the dramatic water gap west of Cumberland where the creek slices between Wills and Haystack mountains. The put-and-take stretch upstream of the flood-control project is one of Maryland's most heavily stocked trout runs — rainbows and browns through spring, with smallmouth bass and rock bass into summer. Bank access along the old National Road and rail corridor through the gap.

Put-and-take trout water above the Narrows flood-control project; stocked through spring — pre-season 'Closure 1' dates may apply, so check the MD DNR stocking schedule. Flows are flashy after mountain rain. A discharge-only USGS gauge sits at the lower end; no live water-temperature feed here.

Nearby

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

Evitts Creek Ponds4 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
68Marginal
Evitts Creek5 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
80Worth the trip
Rocky Gap State Park — Lake Habeeb8 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
68Marginal
Lake Gordon8 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until 7 am
68Marginal
Lake Koon10 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until 7 am
68Marginal
Piney Reservoir12 mi · MarylandBest today 5 am–6 am
78Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows 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 Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows?

Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Common Carp. 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 Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows?

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 Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows 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 Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows have?

Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Put-and-take trout water above the Narrows flood-control project; stocked through spring — pre-season 'Closure 1' dates may apply, so check the MD DNR stocking schedule. Flows are flashy after mountain rain. A discharge-only USGS gauge sits at the lower end; no live water-temperature feed here.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows. 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 Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows tidal water?

No. Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows 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 Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows?

Put-and-take trout water above the Narrows flood-control project; stocked through spring — pre-season 'Closure 1' dates may apply, so check the MD DNR stocking schedule. Flows are flashy after mountain rain. A discharge-only USGS gauge sits at the lower end; no live water-temperature feed here.