The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is pleased to welcome anglers to put-and-take areas throughout the state for the official Trout Fishing Opening Day. Thousands of hatchery-raised brown, rainbow golden, and rainbow trout will be stocked before the event in areas currently closed to fishing.
When:
March 29, 2025, beginning at 6:30 a.m.
Note: Not all locations are open or accessible during fishing hours, so confirm your local access point’s operating hours before attending.
Who:
Licensed adult anglers holding a trout stamp (unless they have a Resident Senior Consolidated License) and those under the age of 16 may catch and keep up to five trout each, except brook trout, which must be released if caught.
Adults and teens can purchase a license and stamp online in person at license agent locations.
Where:
Put-and-take trout areas recently closed for stocking under “closure 1.” These locations are listed below, online, and in the Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing.
Allegany County
- Cotton Cove Pond in Glendening Recreational Complex at Frostburg
- Dans Mountain Pond
- Evitts Creek—mainstem upstream of Interstate Route 68
- Fifteen Mile Creek Watershed
- Jennings Run—mainstem downstream of the confluence of North Jennings Run
- North Jennings Run Watershed
- Wills Creek—mainstem upstream of the US Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control Project at The Narrows above Cumberland
Anne Arundel County
- Severn Run—mainstem upstream of MD Route 3
Baltimore County and Baltimore City
Due to low water levels in the Lower Gunpowder River, this area will not be stocked for youth day or for the opening day of Put and Take Trout Season. These fish have been re-allocated to Little Falls, Little Gunpowder, Patapsco Avalon, and Deer Creek. Staff will monitor flow and if water levels permit, the Lower Gunpowder River will be stocked in April.
- Gunpowder Falls—mainstem from the red post located 1.6 miles downstream of Corbett Road downstream to the hiker/biker bridge located approximately one mile downstream of Phoenix Road; and from Cromwell Bridge downstream to the Interstate Rt. 95 bridge
- Little Falls—mainstem from Wiseburg Road upstream to Valley Mill Road
- Little Gunpowder Falls—mainstem from Jericho Road upstream to Route 165
- Patapsco River—mainstem from the B&O Viaduct upstream to Ilchester Road
Calvert County
- Calvert Cliffs Pond
- Hutchins Pond
Carroll County
- Farm Museum Pond
- South Branch Patapsco River—mainstem from West Friendship Road (Howard County side) and Main Street (Carroll County side) at Sykesville downstream to its confluence with the North Branch Patapsco River
- Piney Run—mainstem downstream from Arrington Road
Cecil County
- Big Elk Creek—mainstem from the bridge at MD Route 277 upstream to the Pennsylvania state line
- Principio Creek—mainstem upstream of MD Route 7
Charles County
- Hughesville Pond
Frederick County
- Fishing Creek—mainstem upstream of Fishing Creek Reservoir including Steep Creek
- Friends Creek Watershed
- Hamburg Pond
- Middle Creek—mainstem from the MD Route 17 bridge near the junction of Bittle Road upstream to the confluence of Spruce Run
- Owens Creek—mainstem from Buck Lantz Road downstream to Roddy Road (catch and return only from June through last day of February)
- Rainbow Lake
- Whiskey Springs Pond
Garrett County
- Accident Pond
- Bear Creek—mainstem from the corner of Fish Hatchery Road and Rabbit Hollow Road downstream to the confluence with the Youghiogheny River at Friendsville
- Mill Run—mainstem downstream of uppermost bridge on Mill Run Road
- Savage River—mainstem from Savage Reservoir upstream to Poplar Lick
Harford County
- Deer Creek—mainstem from 1 mile south of Rocks State Park upstream to the bridge at MD Route 23
- Little Gunpowder Falls—mainstem from Jericho Road upstream to MD Route 165
Howard County
- Patuxent River—mainstem from base of Rocky Gorge Reservoir Dam in Laurel downstream to the Railroad crossing
- South Branch Patapsco River—mainstem from West Friendship Road (Howard County side) and Main Street (Carroll County side) at Sykesville downstream to its confluence with the North Branch Patapsco River
- Warfield Park Pond
Montgomery County
- Great Seneca Creek—from MD Route 28 upstream to MD Route 355
- Martin Luther King Jr. Park Pond
- Pine Lake
Washington County
- Beaver Creek—from the downstream side of the bridges on the private farm lane located below the Albert Powell State Trout Hatchery downstream to Black Rock Creek, and from Beaver Creek Road downstream to the confluence with Antietam Creek
- Licking Creek Mainstem
The purchase of licenses, fishing tackle, boats, and marine fuel funds our fish and wildlife conservation work.