It's a Fishing Day

Species

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu · family Centrarchidae

Premier gamefish of the non-tidal Potomac, the Upper Susquehanna, and Deep Creek Lake. Pound-for-pound one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish. Hits tubes, crayfish imitations, spinnerbaits, and topwater poppers.

Preferred conditions

Water temp
55–78°F (ideal 68°F)
Tide
either
Moon
either
Depth
3–30 ft
Active months
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best smallmouth bass conditions today

  1. Conowingo Dam Tailrace Harford, MD · harvest closed
    74/100
  2. Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac Fairfax, VA · harvest closed
    74/100
  3. Loch Raven Reservoir Baltimore, MD
    68/100
  4. Liberty Reservoir Carroll, MD
    68/100
  5. Patapsco Valley State Park — Daniels Area Baltimore, MD · harvest closed
    68/100
  6. Prettyboy Reservoir Baltimore, MD
    33/100
  7. Monocacy River — Buckeystown Frederick, MD
    33/100
  8. Deep Creek Lake Garrett, MD
    29/100
  9. Youghiogheny River — Friendsville Garrett, MD · harvest closed
    29/100
  10. Jennings Randolph Lake Garrett, MD
    0/100
  11. North Branch Potomac River — Luke Allegany, MD · harvest closed
    0/100

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (non-tidal)

non tidal

Min size
12"
Creel
5

Non-tidal MD: 12-inch minimum, 5 per day in aggregate with largemouth bass. Harvest season is June 16 through the last day of February. March 1–June 15 is catch-and-release only. Special regulations apply on sections of the non-tidal Potomac — check site-specific rules.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Delaware (tidal)

non tidal

Min size
12"
Max size
17"
Creel
6

Delaware non-tidal waters: 12–17 inch protected slot — you cannot keep any fish from 12 to 17 inches inclusive. Below 12 in and above 17 in are legal, but only 1 fish over 17 inches may be kept per day. Total creel 6 per day. No spawning closure like MD (which is C&R March 1–June 15 for bass). DE's smallmouth fishery is small — mostly the Brandywine Creek, Christina River, and Red Clay Creek in New Castle County — but it's regulated independently of largemouth (no aggregate rule).

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (non-tidal — VDWR)

non tidal

Creel
5

Non-tidal VA: 5 per day in aggregate with largemouth bass. Same water-specific slot limits apply: James River and New River (Fields Dam to state line) have a 14–22 inch protected slot with only 1 fish over 22 in allowed; Shenandoah River has an 11–14 inch slot; Claytor Lake requires a 14-inch minimum; Lake Moomaw requires 12-inch minimum. VA's smallmouth fisheries (James, New, Shenandoah) are nationally recognized — check water-specific rules before keeping any fish.

Source · verified 2026-04-22