It’s a fishing day

Prettyboy Reservoir fishing conditions · Maryland

Tonight, 6 pm–8 pmChain pickerel

The bite peaks at 84. Water is 53°, inside their 45–80° range.

Log a trip here
Right now: 76 for chain pickerel, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Chain pickerel, 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. 764 pm
  2. 76
  3. 84
  4. 847 pm
  5. 74
  6. 74
  7. 7410 pm
  8. 74
  9. 74Sun
  10. 741 am
  11. 74
  12. 74
  13. 744 am
  14. 74
  15. 74
  16. 747 am
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 7410 am
  20. 74
  21. 74
  22. 741 pm
  23. 74
  24. 74
  25. 744 pm
  26. 74
  27. 74
  28. 747 pm
  29. 74
  30. 74
  31. 7410 pm
  32. 74
  33. 74Mon
  34. 741 am
  35. 74
  36. 74
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
53°F

Chain pickerel range 45–80°

Wind
16 mph

From the west

Flow
29.7 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:59 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

3% chance of rain

Air
55°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

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.

Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel

Esox niger

84Worth the tripTonight, 6 pm–8 pm

Water

53°
35°45–80° · ideal 60°90°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside chain pickerel's active range. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 14" minimum, 5 a day (10 in possession), open all year. May not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on chain pickerel

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

84Worth the tripTonight, 6 pm–8 pm

Water

53°
40°50–80° · ideal 65°90°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside crappie's active range. 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

84Worth the tripTonight, 6 pm–8 pm

Water

53°
35°45–70° · ideal 58°80°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside yellow perch's active range. 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

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

84Worth the tripTonight, 6 pm–8 pm

Water

53°
42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside common carp's active range. 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.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on common carp

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

49Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

53°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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 (or as set by special regulation), 5 bass a day combined with largemouth, 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: Apr–Nov. More on smallmouth bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

53°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below largemouth bass's active range (55–85°F). 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

The water

  • Water temperature53°F
  • River29.7 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.92 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:59 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:43 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 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 · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A Baltimore City water-supply reservoir in northern Baltimore County. Bank fishing year-round with a valid Maryland fishing license. Boats with electric motors are allowed during the boating season (March 1 – December 31) with a separate Baltimore City watercraft permit; no gas or propane motors.

Bank fishing year-round (MD fishing license required). Boats: electric-motor-only with a Baltimore City watercraft permit, March 1 – December 31. Live aquatic bait must be from a state-certified zebra-mussel-free dealer.

Nearby

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

Liberty Reservoir16 mi · MarylandBest today 5 pm–8 pm
78Worth the trip
Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls16 mi · MarylandBest now until 8 pm
100Go
Loch Raven Reservoir17 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
68Marginal
Patapsco Valley State Park — Daniels Area22 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
68Marginal
Mariner Point Park28 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Cox's Point Park30 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go

Questions people ask

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

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

Prettyboy Reservoir is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, and 2 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 Prettyboy 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 Prettyboy 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 Prettyboy Reservoir have?

Prettyboy Reservoir has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Bank fishing year-round (MD fishing license required). Boats: electric-motor-only with a Baltimore City watercraft permit, March 1 – December 31. Live aquatic bait must be from a state-certified zebra-mussel-free dealer.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Prettyboy Reservoir?

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

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