Now until tomorrow 3 pmRainbow trout
The bite peaks at 72. Water is 49°, inside their 45–68° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.
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 · best window
Rainbow trout range 45–68°
From the south
steady · -8% in 24 h
Sunrise 7:39 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.
Inside rainbow trout's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.
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
Inside brown trout's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Brown trout feeds less actively under bright moon. Holds 3–25 ft down.
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
Smallmouth bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Below smallmouth bass's active range (55–78°F). Holds 3–30 ft down.
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
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. 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
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 · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisory
The Youghiogheny at Friendsville is a freestone river of stocked rainbow and brown trout in spring through fall and smallmouth bass through summer. Bank access along MD 53 and adjacent public lands. Note: the dedicated Top-Yough Catch-and-Return section runs from the Deep Creek Lake tailrace down to Sang Run Bridge — Friendsville is downstream of that zone and is governed by standard MD non-tidal trout regulations.
Catch-and-return artificial lures only in the Quality Fishery section — verify current section boundaries with MD DNR. Whitewater kayakers also use this stretch.
Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Youghiogheny River — Friendsville 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
Youghiogheny River — Friendsville 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.
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 Youghiogheny River — Friendsville 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.
Youghiogheny River — Friendsville has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Catch-and-return artificial lures only in the Quality Fishery section — verify current section boundaries with MD DNR. Whitewater kayakers also use this stretch.
Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Youghiogheny River — Friendsville. 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. Youghiogheny River — Friendsville is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.
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