It’s a fishing day

Piney Reservoir fishing conditions · Maryland

Tomorrow, 4 pm–5 pmLargemouth bass

The bite peaks at 60. Wind builds to 22 mph out of the west by today at 5:00 pm.

Log a trip here
Right now: 40 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. 404 pm
  2. 40
  3. 40
  4. 407 pm
  5. 45
  6. 45
  7. 4510 pm
  8. 45
  9. 45Sun
  10. 451 am
  11. 45
  12. 45
  13. 454 am
  14. 45
  15. 45
  16. 457 am
  17. 45
  18. 45
  19. 4510 am
  20. 45
  21. 45
  22. 451 pm
  23. 45
  24. 45
  25. 604 pm
  26. 45
  27. 45
  28. 457 pm
  29. 45
  30. 45
  31. 4510 pm
  32. 45
  33. 45Mon
  34. 451 am
  35. 45
  36. 45
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Largemouth bass range 55–85°

Wind
21 mph

From the west · rough for small boats

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:08 pm

Sky
Scattered Rain Showers

14% chance of rain

Air
42°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.

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

60MarginalTomorrow, 4 pm–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

60MarginalTomorrow, 4 pm–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

60MarginalTomorrow, 4 pm–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal lakes and ponds: no minimum size, 10 yellow perch a day (20 in possession).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Nontidal lakes and ponds

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Feb–Apr, Oct–Dec. More on yellow perch

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

60MarginalTomorrow, 4 pm–5 pm

Water

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

Why

Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Put-and-take trout area: 5 trout a day combined (10 in possession), no minimum size; brook trout must be released. No closure.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Put-and-take trout area

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

60MarginalTomorrow, 4 pm–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on channel catfish

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.07 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:08 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:52 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 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

Frostburg's 120-acre water-supply reservoir (aka Frostburg Reservoir) near Finzel in northeastern Garrett County. A warmwater fishery with a strong largemouth bass and panfish reputation — crappie and yellow perch — plus hatchery trout stocked spring and fall for a cold-water bonus. One of the region's most popular ice-fishing lakes. Shoreline-only, with a handicapped-access fishing platform.

The City of Frostburg owns the entire shoreline; public shore and ice fishing are permitted. No boating. No fishing along the dam face (posted). Reached from Piney Run Road north of US 40.

Nearby

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

Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows12 mi · MarylandBest tonight 10 pm to Monday 4 am
74Worth the trip
Savage River Reservoir14 mi · MarylandBest tonight 12 am–8 am
92Go
Evitts Creek Ponds16 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
68Marginal
Evitts Creek17 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
68Marginal
Lake Gordon18 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until Monday 4 am
68Marginal
North Branch Potomac River — Luke18 mi · MarylandBest today 5 pm to tomorrow 9 am
92Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Piney Reservoir?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Piney Reservoir 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 Piney Reservoir?

Piney Reservoir is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, 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 Piney Reservoir?

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 Piney Reservoir 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 Piney Reservoir have?

Piney Reservoir has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. The City of Frostburg owns the entire shoreline; public shore and ice fishing are permitted. No boating. No fishing along the dam face (posted). Reached from Piney Run Road north of US 40.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Piney Reservoir?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Piney Reservoir. 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 Piney Reservoir tidal water?

No. Piney Reservoir is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.