It's a Fishing Day

Species

Crappie

Pomoxis spp. · family Centrarchidae

Covers both black crappie (P. nigromaculatus) and white crappie (P. annularis). Schooling panfish around brush, docks, and submerged timber. Spring pre-spawn is the prime season — small minnows and 1/16-oz jigs are the go-to.

Preferred conditions

Water temp
50–80°F (ideal 65°F)
Tide
either
Moon
either
Depth
3–20 ft
Active months
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov

Best crappie conditions today

  1. Prettyboy Reservoir Baltimore, MD
    74/100
  2. Rocky Gap State Park — Lake Habeeb Allegany, MD
    68/100
  3. Loch Raven Reservoir Baltimore, MD
    68/100
  4. Liberty Reservoir Carroll, MD
    68/100
  5. Triadelphia Reservoir Howard, MD
    68/100
  6. Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake Montgomery, MD
    68/100
  7. Lums Pond State Park New Castle, DE
    68/100
  8. Burke Lake Park Fairfax, VA
    68/100
  9. Deep Creek Lake Garrett, MD
    29/100
  10. Lake Anna State Park Spotsylvania, VA
    15/100
  11. Jennings Randolph Lake Garrett, MD
    0/100

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (non-tidal)

non tidal

Creel
15

Non-tidal MD: no minimum size, 15 per day in aggregate (black + white crappie). Open year-round.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Delaware (tidal)

non tidal

Creel
50

Delaware non-tidal waters: crappie (black and white) are regulated as "panfish" in aggregate with white perch, yellow perch, bluegill, and pumpkinseed — 50 fish/day total, no more than 25 of any one species. No minimum size. Notably more generous than MD's 15/day crappie-only aggregate.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (non-tidal — VDWR)

non tidal

Creel
25

Non-tidal VA: 25 per day in aggregate (black + white crappie). No statewide minimum size. Several reservoirs impose a 9- or 10-inch minimum — Buggs Island (Kerr), Lake Gaston (which has no daily limit instead), Lake Anna, etc. More generous than MD (15/day) and narrower than DE (50/day aggregate panfish).

Source · verified 2026-04-22