Live wading and fishing conditions for 41 Maryland rivers
Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.
Gunpowder Falls
Maryland's blue-ribbon trout stream — the cold tailwater below Prettyboy Dam holds a dense, self-sustaining population of wild brown trout, plus wild brookies up top, all inside Gunpowder Falls State Park north of Baltimore. It's a technical, spring-creek-like catch-and-release fishery: releases from Prettyboy keep it cold and clear year-round, and the wading window follows the dam, not the weather.
Region: Central Maryland · Fish for: Brown Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Gunpowder Falls Near Parkton, Md, Gunpowder Falls At Glencoe, Md
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Savage River
One of the East's premier trout tailwaters — the cold releases below Savage River Dam create a nationally known catch-and-release trophy fishery for wild brown and native brook trout, tucked in the Savage River State Forest. Flow is release-controlled: the river runs low and technical between whitewater generation, and turns big and dangerous fast when the dam opens, so the release schedule matters more than any single number.
Region: Western Maryland · Fish for: Brown Trout, Brook Trout · USGS gauges: Savage River Near Barton, Md, Savage Riv Bl Savage Riv Dam Near Bloomington, Md
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Potomac River
The upper and middle Potomac is one of America's great smallmouth rivers — a big, wide, wadeable-in-places freestone running along the Maryland–West Virginia and Maryland–Virginia lines, with endless ledges, grass beds, and current seams. It's also a musky, catfish, and carp river; the marquee smallmouth floats run from around Hancock down through Point of Rocks and beyond.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge · USGS gauges: Potomac River At Hancock, Md, Potomac River At Point Of Rocks, Md
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Susquehanna River
Where the Susquehanna crosses into Maryland below Conowingo Dam it becomes huge, generation-driven water — a nationally known smallmouth, walleye, catfish, and seasonal striper fishery in the tailrace and the flats above tidewater. This is big, powerful river: flow and safety are dictated by how many turbines are running, and water can rise fast and hard below the dam.
Region: Lower Susquehanna · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass · USGS gauges: Susquehanna River At Conowingo, Md
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North Branch Potomac River
A conservation comeback story — once ruined by acid mine drainage, the North Branch below Jennings Randolph Dam is now a cold, limestone-buffered tailwater managed for trout, with smallmouth taking over downstream toward Cumberland. The upper C&R tailwater fishes on dam releases; the lower river is bigger, warmer smallmouth and walleye water.
Region: Western Maryland · Fish for: Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: North Branch Potomac River At Luke, Md, North Branch Potomac River Near Cumberland, Md
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Youghiogheny River
Maryland's slice of the Yough runs cold and rocky off the Allegheny Plateau — a stocked-and-wild trout tailwater below Deep Creek Lake plus strong smallmouth, rock bass, and even muskellunge in the bigger downstream water toward Friendsville. The Sang Run–to–Friendsville reach doubles as a famous whitewater run, so flows swing hard with releases and rain.
Region: Western Maryland · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Youghiogheny River Near Swallow Falls Park, Md, Youghiogheny River At Friendsville, Md
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Monocacy River
Maryland's longest tributary of the Potomac — a piedmont smallmouth and rock-bass river winding through Frederick County farm country, popular as a canoe-and-wade float. Clear over gravel and ledge at normal flow, it's a productive, low-pressure smallmouth stream with catfish and redhorse mixed in.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Monocacy River At Bridgeport, Md, Monocacy River At Jug Bridge Near Frederick, Md
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Deer Creek
A gorgeous, clear tributary of the lower Susquehanna running through Rocks State Park — famous for its spring hickory- and American-shad runs and holding strong smallmouth, rock bass, and stocked trout the rest of the year. One of Maryland's prettiest wadeable rivers, and a rite of spring for shad anglers.
Region: Lower Susquehanna · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Hickory Shad · USGS gauges: Deer Creek At Rocks, Md, Deer Creek Near Darlington, Md
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Patapsco River
Baltimore's home river — the Patapsco runs through the long, wooded Patapsco Valley State Park as a wadeable smallmouth, rock-bass, and stocked-trout stream just minutes from the city. Dam removals have reopened it for migratory fish, and it's a genuinely good urban smallmouth and put-and-take trout river.
Region: Central Maryland · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Patapsco River At Hollofield, Md, Patapsco River Near Elkridge, Md
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Antietam Creek
A limestone-influenced piedmont creek running past the Antietam battlefield to the Potomac — stocked with trout in its cooler upper reaches and holding wild smallmouth and rock bass below. A pretty, wadeable creek with delayed-harvest trout water and good warm-season smallmouth.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Antietam Creek Near Sharpsburg, Md
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Choptank River
The Eastern Shore's signature river — the tidal-fresh upper Choptank near Greensboro and Denton is prime largemouth, snakehead, white perch, and catfish water, winding through farm country toward the Chesapeake. A slow, warm, structure-rich river best fished by boat or from the bank around wood and grass.
Region: Eastern Shore · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Northern Snakehead · USGS gauges: Choptank River Near Greensboro, Md
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Mattawoman Creek
One of the tidal Potomac's legendary bass creeks — Mattawoman Creek in Charles County is famous for its grassbeds, spatterdock, and wood, holding trophy largemouth, snakehead, crappie, perch, and blue catfish. A boat-and-bank tidal-fresh fishery that ranks among the region's best bass water.
Region: Southern Maryland · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Northern Snakehead · USGS gauges: Mattawoman Creek Near Pomonkey, Md
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Patuxent River
Maryland's longest river entirely within the state — the upper Patuxent is a stocked-trout and smallmouth stream, while the lower tidal-fresh reaches near Bowie hold largemouth, snakehead, catfish, and crappie. A two-in-one river: cool wadeable water up top, warm tidal-fresh bass water below.
Region: Central Maryland · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass · USGS gauges: Patuxent River Near Unity, Md, Patuxent River Near Bowie, Md
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Pocomoke River
A dark, cypress-lined blackwater river winding through the Pocomoke Forest on the lower Eastern Shore — one of Maryland's most atmospheric fisheries, tannic and slow, full of largemouth, snakehead, bowfin, crappie, and perch. A boat-and-bank river where you fish the shade, wood, and cypress knees.
Region: Eastern Shore · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Northern Snakehead · USGS gauges: Pocomoke River Near Willards, Md
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Casselman River
A clear, wadeable Allegheny Plateau smallmouth and stocked-trout river near Grantsville, running over rock and gravel through farm and forest country. A quiet western-Maryland gem — small enough to wade, with a delayed-harvest trout reach and good warm-season smallmouth and rock bass.
Region: Western Maryland · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Casselman River At Grantsville, Md
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Conococheague Creek
A big piedmont creek draining the Cumberland Valley into the Potomac near Williamsport — a wadeable and floatable smallmouth and rock-bass stream with stocked trout in its cooler reaches. Under-the-radar water that fishes well for bass through the warm months.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Conococheague Creek At Fairview, Md
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Bear Creek
A cold, clear Youghiogheny tributary tumbling off the plateau into Friendsville — a managed wild and stocked trout stream with a delayed-harvest reach, plus smallmouth and rock bass in its lower end near the Yough confluence. Small, wadeable pocket water in a mountain setting.
Region: Western Maryland · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Bear Creek At Friendsville, Md
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Town Creek
A remote, gorgeous smallmouth creek winding through the mountains of eastern Allegany County to the Potomac at Oldtown — one of Maryland's best-kept float-fishing secrets. Clear over gravel and ledge, it's a low-pressure wade-and-paddle smallmouth and rock-bass stream.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Town Creek Near Oldtown, Md
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Catoctin Creek
A pretty Frederick County creek draining the Catoctin and Middletown valleys to the Potomac — stocked with trout in its cooler upper water and holding wild smallmouth and rock bass below. A wadeable, low-key piedmont creek with delayed-harvest trout reaches and warm-season bass.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Catoctin Creek Near Middletown, Md
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Little Patuxent River
A Howard County river running through Savage and Guilford to the Patuxent — stocked with trout in cooler reaches and holding smallmouth, rock bass, and channel cats through the warm months. A wadeable suburban-fringe stream with put-and-take trout up top and bass below.
Region: Central Maryland · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Little Patuxent River At Guilford, Md, Little Patuxent River At Savage, Md
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Seneca Creek
A Montgomery County creek running through Seneca Creek State Park to the Potomac at Riley's Lock — stocked with trout in its cooler reaches and holding smallmouth, largemouth, and rock bass, with the tidal-fresh mouth near the Potomac good for bass and even snakehead. A versatile suburban-fringe fishery.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Seneca Creek At Dawsonville, Md
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Wills Creek
A steep, rocky creek dropping through the Wills Mountain gorge into Cumberland — stocked with trout in spring and holding smallmouth and rock bass through the warm months. A scenic, under-fished western-Maryland creek with put-and-take trout up top and bass in the lower reaches.
Region: Western Maryland · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Wills Creek Near Cumberland, Md
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Piscataway Creek
A tidal-fresh Potomac creek in Prince George's County across from Mount Vernon — grass, pads, and wood holding largemouth, snakehead, crappie, perch, and blue catfish through Piscataway Park. A quiet, scenic tidal-fresh bass and snakehead fishery close to DC.
Region: Southern Maryland · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Northern Snakehead · USGS gauges: Piscataway Creek At Piscataway, Md
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Little Gunpowder Falls
The Gunpowder's smaller sister — a wadeable stream forming the Baltimore–Harford county line and running through Gunpowder Falls State Park, stocked with trout in spring and holding smallmouth and rock bass below. A pretty, low-key alternative to the famous main stem.
Region: Central Maryland · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Little Gunpowder Falls At Laurel Brook, Md
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Tuckahoe Creek
A tidal-fresh Choptank tributary running through Tuckahoe State Park on the Eastern Shore — slow, structure-rich largemouth, snakehead, crappie, and perch water winding past cypress, wood, and grass. A boat-and-bank creek with a lake up top and prime bass habitat below.
Region: Eastern Shore · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Northern Snakehead · USGS gauges: Tuckahoe Creek Near Ruthsburg, Md
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Paint Branch
A rare urban wild-trout stream — Paint Branch in Montgomery County holds one of the region's few self-sustaining wild brown trout populations in its protected upper reaches, a jewel of coldwater conservation on the edge of the DC suburbs. Small, technical, tightly regulated water.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Paint Branch Near College Park, Md
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Octoraro Creek
A lower-Susquehanna tributary crossing from Pennsylvania into Cecil County and joining the Susquehanna near Conowingo — a wadeable and floatable smallmouth and rock-bass creek that also sees spring shad and hosts stocked trout in cooler reaches. Rocky, clear water with light pressure.
Region: Lower Susquehanna · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Octoraro Creek Near Richardsmere, Md
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St Marys River
A St. Mary's County river anchored by St. Mary's Lake and its tidal-fresh reaches at Great Mills — largemouth, crappie, perch, and snakehead water in a scenic Southern Maryland setting, with the state-managed lake a well-known bass and panfish fishery. A boat-and-bank river close to historic St. Mary's City.
Region: Southern Maryland · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie · USGS gauges: St Marys River At Great Mills, Md
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Big Elk Creek
A Cecil County creek dropping from Pennsylvania through Elk Mills toward the head of the Chesapeake — stocked with trout in spring and holding smallmouth and rock bass below. A wadeable upper-bay creek with put-and-take trout and warm-season bass just outside Elkton.
Region: Lower Susquehanna · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Big Elk Creek At Elk Mills, Md
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Sideling Hill Creek
A wild, high-quality mountain creek straddling the Maryland–West Virginia line and running through a protected natural area to the Potomac — clear, rocky smallmouth and rock-bass water in a near-pristine setting. A small, wadeable float for anglers who like solitude.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Sideling Hill Creek Near Bellegrove, Md
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Western Branch
A tidal-fresh Patuxent tributary near Upper Marlboro — slow, warm bass and snakehead water winding through Prince George's County toward the Patuxent, with blue catfish stacking in the deeper channels. A boat-and-bank tidal-fresh fishery in the heart of the Patuxent watershed.
Region: Southern Maryland · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Northern Snakehead · USGS gauges: Western Branch At Upper Marlboro, Md
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Licking Creek
A long piedmont-mountain creek dropping out of Pennsylvania through Washington County to the Potomac near Hancock — a wadeable and floatable smallmouth and rock-bass stream that fishes well through the warm months. Quiet, rocky water with light pressure.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Licking Creek At Pectonville, Md
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Nassawango Creek
A dark, cypress-lined blackwater tributary of the Pocomoke in Worcester County — one of the Eastern Shore's most atmospheric little fisheries, tannic and slow, holding largemouth, bowfin, crappie, and perch around wood and cypress knees. A paddle-and-bank creek for anglers who love wild, quiet water.
Region: Eastern Shore · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Bowfin · USGS gauges: Nassawango Creek Near Snow Hill, Md
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Big Pipe Creek
A Carroll County farm-country creek feeding the Monocacy — a wadeable smallmouth and rock-bass stream running over gravel and ledge through rolling piedmont. Under-the-radar bass water with stocked trout in a cool tributary or two.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Big Pipe Creek At Bruceville, Md
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Winters Run
A Harford County stream draining toward the Bush River — stocked with trout in spring in its cooler reaches near Bel Air and holding smallmouth and rock bass below. A wadeable, low-key creek with put-and-take trout and warm-season bass.
Region: Central Maryland · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Winters Run Near Benson, Md, Winters Run Near Bel Air, Md
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Georges Creek
A coal-country creek reborn — once devastated by acid mine drainage, Georges Creek is now limed and stocked with trout through the old mining towns of the Georges Creek valley. A modest but genuine put-and-take trout fishery and a real western-Maryland restoration story.
Region: Western Maryland · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Georges Creek At Franklin, Md
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Bennett Creek
A small Frederick County creek draining Sugarloaf Mountain country to the Monocacy — stocked with trout in spring and holding smallmouth and rock bass through the warm months. A wadeable, scenic little stream with put-and-take trout and warm-season bass.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass · USGS gauges: Bennett Creek At Park Mills, Md
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Tonoloway Creek
A small Cumberland Valley creek flowing past Hancock to the Potomac — stocked with trout in its cooler reaches and holding smallmouth and rock bass below. A modest, wadeable creek that rounds out the Hancock-area smallmouth options.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Tonoloway Creek Near Hancock, Md
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Western Run
A Baltimore County creek draining the horse-country valleys toward the Gunpowder — a wadeable smallmouth and rock-bass stream running clear over gravel and ledge through rolling farmland. Quiet, under-fished piedmont bass water with stocked trout in a cool tributary or two.
Region: Central Maryland · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Western Run At Western Run, Md
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Linganore Creek
A Frederick County creek flowing out of Lake Linganore to the Monocacy — a wadeable smallmouth and rock-bass stream with stocked trout in cooler reaches. Low-pressure piedmont bass water winding through farm and woodland.
Region: Potomac & Piedmont · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass · USGS gauges: Linganore Creek At Linganore Rd Near Frederick, Md
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Zekiah Swamp Run
The freshwater artery of Zekiah Swamp — Maryland's largest freshwater swamp — running through Charles County toward the Wicomico and Potomac. A wild, tannic, wood-choked stream and swamp system holding largemouth, bowfin, snakehead, and perch in some of Southern Maryland's most remote water.
Region: Southern Maryland · Fish for: Largemouth Bass, Bowfin · USGS gauges: Zekiah Swamp Run Near Newtown, Md
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