It's a Fishing Day

Species

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss · family Salmonidae

The most heavily stocked trout in Maryland. Put-and-take fisheries across the state plus holdover/wild fish in Western MD streams (Savage, Youghiogheny tailwater, Gunpowder). Takes PowerBait, small spinners, and standard dry/nymph patterns.

Preferred conditions

Water temp
45–68°F (ideal 55°F)
Tide
either
Moon
either
Depth
3–20 ft
Active months
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Oct, Nov

Best rainbow trout conditions today

  1. Rocky Gap State Park — Lake Habeeb Allegany, MD · harvest closed
    68/100
  2. Patapsco Valley State Park — Daniels Area Baltimore, MD
    68/100
  3. Deep Creek Lake Garrett, MD · harvest closed
    41/100
  4. Savage River Reservoir Garrett, MD
    41/100
  5. Youghiogheny River — Friendsville Garrett, MD
    41/100
  6. North Branch Potomac River — Luke Allegany, MD
    29/100

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (non-tidal)

non tidal-trout

Creel
2

Daily creel 2 in aggregate across all trout species; possession limit 4 in aggregate. No minimum size. Put-and-Take "Closure 1" areas are closed March 8–March 28, 2026 (10pm–6:30am) for pre-season stocking. Special Trout Management Areas (Catch-and-Return, Delayed Harvest, Trophy Trout) have their own regulations — verify per water. Trout stamp required in addition to the standard freshwater license.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Delaware (tidal)

non tidal-trout

Creel
6

Delaware stocked trout program. Daily creel 6 in aggregate across all trout species (4 in fly-fishing-only waters). No minimum size. Rainbow is the primary stocked species. Trout stamp required April–June 30 and October–November 30 for streams; March–April 1 for Tidbury and Newton Ponds. No fishing in designated trout waters within 14 days before opening; no night fishing (half-hour after sunset to half-hour before sunrise) in designated trout waters. Regulations do not differ by trout species.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (non-tidal — VDWR)

non tidal-trout

Min size
7"
Creel
6

Non-tidal VA stocked trout waters: 7-inch minimum, 6 per day (aggregate across rainbow, brown, brook). Statewide harvest season on stocked waters is October 1–June 15; trout license required. Many special-regulation waters exist: Heritage Trout Waters (single hook, C&R or limited harvest), Fee Fishing Areas (daily permit required, higher creel), and designated Wild Trout Waters (year-round, artificial lures only, often C&R). Rainbow is the primary stocked species, especially in the Shenandoah Valley.

Source · verified 2026-04-22