Bass Fishing in Carroll/Frederick

[Sgt6402]

Anyone know where there are any good ponds or small lakes that are open to the public that has good bass fishing? I don't want to keep the fish just catch & release.

Retiring and wanna start out right by fishing and enjoying!

Thanks

 

[Bigdtc]

Honestly the best places I fished for bass were Liberty Reservoir, Prettyboy Reservoir and for smallies the Potomac. I used to fish with a friend that had a small flat bottomed boat with an electric motor for the reservoirs. Pretty much set up like a bass boat but with an electric motor as well as a trolling motor. We usually did pretty good once you find the right spots. If your retiring you might consider that. Great fishing is only minutes away that way..

P.S... Enjoy your retirement!

 

[Sgt6402]

Thanks, I will have to check out Liberty & Prettyboy Reservoirs.....

Have not decided if I wanna get a boat.....lol

 

[Bigdtc]

Me too..lol.
I know the boat itself can be had fairly cheap. His is a 14' Jon Boat with a deck and decent chairs. Like I said, pretty much set up like any gas powered bass rig. The big expense with these are the electric motor and batteries. His is a 60 volt motor, I forget the brand but they are pretty popular and last a very long time. He bought his (well) used and only ever replaced 1 wire on it. The batteries are 5 X 12 volt deep cycle batteries. That set up would get us to the far reaches of the reservoir with plenty enough power to get us back to the dock. He also has a 24 volt trolling motor powered by 4 X 6 volt golf cart batteries. Plenty of reserve time with that set up too and good insurance if you main motor fails. i have also seen guy out there with multiple trolling motors for power. They will have 3 or 4 on the back of the boat and it seemed to work O.K.
Don't be in a hurry tho, according to the GPS on the boat his would do 5.9 MPH and was one of the quicker boats on the water there. There were faster ones with really high end motors.. All depends on what you want and how much of a hurry you are in. We were there to enjoy the water so speed was not an issue for us.
I also saw folks out there with kayaks too. Not a bad idea and good exercise if your into that. The reservoirs have minimum boat sizes too. IIRC 12' was the smallest for any powered boat but I would have a look around the DNR fishing site just to see if anything has changed..

 

[Sgt6402]

My problem would be hauling the boat around, gotta get a trailer, register it, then a truck to haul it around........ $$$$$ lol

 

[dfens42]

Some decent smallies in the Upper Patapsco, like above where it is tidal, near Ellicott City.

Potomac around Harper's Ferry is nice.

Cunningham Falls and Piney Run Reservoirs.

 

[dfens42]

http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/recreational/fwhot.html

 

[RRHemi]

Fished a lot of ponds in Fred Co. See a pond, knock on door and ask politely, more than half the time they will say yes. Of course when I was a lad we used to just sneak in after dark...Now that was fun!!!! Nothing like a Jitterbug doing it's thing under a moon lit night

 

[dfens42]

Yeah, my dad used to take me to all kinds of ponds in Howard/Carroll/Baltimore/Frederick Counties. And lots of fun can be had with some worms and a few minnows.

 

[Sgt6402]

Thanks for the link.... I may try Cunningham Falls & Piney Run

I may try around Harpers Ferry also, pass by there all the time going to Charlestown.....lol

 

[Bigdtc]

My problem would be hauling the boat around, gotta get a trailer, register it, then a truck to haul it around........ $$$$$ lol

Right on.. I understand. Here in S.C. you don't need to register or tag a trailer unless it's a biggun'.. Might think about a kayak then, lightweight and easy enough to tote around on a vehicle roof... Gets you to places you'll never get to from shore. It's your retirement, have a blast!!
Also, I forgot to mention Random House Park in Westminster. There are bass in there. Most folks dip a worm in there for sunnies but I've actually caught decent bass there and rarely saw others fishing specifically for them..

 

[RoKKboXXer]

Monocacy river near Thurmont is decent.

 

[Lou45]

Also, I forgot to mention Random House Park in Westminster. There are bass in there. Most folks dip a worm in there for sunnies but I've actually caught decent bass there and rarely saw others fishing specifically for them..

A few bass in there as I fished it awhile back, perhaps 12 to 15 years ago. If during season you decide to keep one or two legal sized bass, DON'T put them on a stringer and place them back in the pond because if you do, most likely you'll jus' pull up a stringer of bass heads. Snappers in there LUV thems bass fishes. Voice of experience speaking.

 

[Sgt6402]

Right on.. I understand. Here in S.C. you don't need to register or tag a trailer unless it's a biggun'.. Might think about a kayak then, lightweight and easy enough to tote around on a vehicle roof... Gets you to places you'll never get to from shore. It's your retirement, have a blast!!
Also, I forgot to mention Random House Park in Westminster. There are bass in there. Most folks dip a worm in there for sunnies but I've actually caught decent bass there and rarely saw others fishing specifically for them..

That is a thought, I like the kayak idea! I didn't even think about Random House pond and all I have is bass gear so I may do pretty good there.

Thanks for reminding me of that place

Lou, Thanks for that heads up(No Pun) but I don't keep them

 

[Lou45]

That is a thought, I like the kayak idea! I didn't even think about Random House pond and all I have is bass gear so I may do pretty good there.

Thanks for reminding me of that place

Lou, Thanks for that heads up(No Pun) but I don't keep them