It’s a fishing day

North Branch Potomac River — Luke fishing conditions · Maryland

Today 5 pm to tomorrow 9 amBrown trout

The bite peaks at 92. Water is 58°, close to the 55° brown trout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 79 for brown trout, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Brown trout, 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. 794 pm
  2. 87
  3. 87
  4. 877 pm
  5. 92
  6. 92
  7. 9210 pm
  8. 92
  9. 92Sun
  10. 921 am
  11. 92
  12. 92
  13. 924 am
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 927 am
  17. 92
  18. 84
  19. 9210 am
  20. 92
  21. 92
  22. 921 pm
  23. 92
  24. 92
  25. 924 pm
  26. 92
  27. 92
  28. 927 pm
  29. 92
  30. 92
  31. 9210 pm
  32. 92
  33. 92Mon
  34. 921 am
  35. 84
  36. 84
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
58°F

Brown trout range 45–68°

Wind
16 mph

From the west

Flow
72.9 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:09 pm

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

5% chance of rain

Air
46°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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.

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

92GoToday 5 pm to tomorrow 9 am

Water

58°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in brown trout's ideal range. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Catch and release only today. Westernport to the Route 956 bridge at Pinto: every trout must be released at once, and barbed hooks are not allowed.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · North Branch Potomac catch-and-return area (Westernport to Pinto)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

92GoToday 5 pm to tomorrow 9 am

Water

58°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in rainbow trout's ideal range. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Catch and release only today. Westernport to the Route 956 bridge at Pinto: every trout must be released at once, and barbed hooks are not allowed.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · North Branch Potomac catch-and-return area (Westernport to Pinto)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

80Worth the tripToday 5 pm to tomorrow 9 am

Water

58°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside smallmouth bass's active range. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on smallmouth bass

The water

  • Water temperature58°F
  • River72.9 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.99 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:09 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:52 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

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, Nov 4

Freshwater Fishing. Although the fall trout stocking program has reached its end, there are still plenty of opportunities for put-and-take anglers in the many community ponds and reservoirs that were stocked. If anglers try switching from Powerbait and work the waters distant from the usual stocking locations with spinners, they might be surprised with the trout that are still there. The delayed harvest and catch-and-return trout management waters will provide catch-and-release fishing from now until June. At that time there will be dates when they revert to put-and-take for the summer months. More information about the special trout management areas is on the DNR website.

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

The North Branch of the Potomac near Luke and Westernport is a recovering tailwater fishery below Jennings Randolph Dam. Stocked regularly with brown and rainbow trout; water quality has improved dramatically since paper-mill closures. Bank access along MD 135.

Water temperatures can be cold year-round thanks to deep reservoir releases — good for summer trout. Check MD DNR stocking reports for timing.

Nearby

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

North Branch Potomac River — Barnum1 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go
Jennings Randolph Lake3 mi · MarylandBest tonight 8 pm to Monday 4 am
92Go
Savage River Reservoir5 mi · MarylandBest tonight 12 am–8 am
92Go
Deep Creek Lake10 mi · MarylandBest tonight 11 pm to tonight 4 am
86Go
Broadford Lake Park15 mi · MarylandBest tonight 6 pm to tomorrow 10 pm
68Marginal
Piney Reservoir18 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 4 pm–5 pm
60Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at North Branch Potomac River — Luke?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at North Branch Potomac River — Luke 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 North Branch Potomac River — Luke?

North Branch Potomac River — Luke is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass. 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 North Branch Potomac River — Luke?

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 North Branch Potomac River — Luke 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 North Branch Potomac River — Luke have?

North Branch Potomac River — Luke has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Water temperatures can be cold year-round thanks to deep reservoir releases — good for summer trout. Check MD DNR stocking reports for timing.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at North Branch Potomac River — Luke?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at North Branch Potomac River — Luke. 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 North Branch Potomac River — Luke tidal water?

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