Transplanting to Towson area....have ?s.

[bassnbuckguy]

Hello, MD guys! Im relocating from Raleigh, NC to the Baltimore area in the spring of 2012 and was wondering about the fishing up there. Iam really interested in the reservoirs and how they fish? What kind of setup do I need and can I fish my 16' BassTracker w/40hp on it? Here in NC, I fish a lake called Shearon Harris and it has alot of grass and some quality fish, are there any reservoirs similar in the area? Can I fish all year (when Im not hunting of course). Also, what are some of the best reservoirs to fish? Thanks for any help/tips given.....

[Creel Limit Zero]

There are a few good reservoirs, but they are electric only.  The basstracker would be fine, but you would have to take the gas motor off.  Loch Raven, Liberty, and Prettyboy reservoirs are all close to Towson, with Loch Raven being just 5 min from Towson.  Also have Triadelphia, Rocky Gorge, and Piney Run all within 30-45 min, which are also electric only, but you can have a gas motor on your boat.  You just can't turn the gas motor on.  Loch Raven and Piney Run would probably be similar to Shearon Harris, in that there is a lot of grass.  Liberty has some grass as well, Prettyboy, Triadelphia, and Rocky Gorge are all clear with little grass. 

Also, the Upper Bay and Potomac have a lot of fishing opportunities, with lots of grass. 

Basically you will have to make a decision on where you want to fish.  If you want to fish the Balt. County Reservoirs, you'll have to permanently remove the gas motor and sign an affidavit that you will not go in other lakes or the Tidal rivers.  Or you can keep the gas motor on, fish all of the lakes you want, but you can't go on Loch Raven, Liberty, or Prettyboy.

Sorry about that - Maryland is full of BS like this and don't let you on the lake with a gas motor...  They say the rule is because they don't want anyone bringing in Zebra mussels... 

[hockeyref]

Well i think Creel about summed it up for all of us.  Welcome to Maryland

[jstrozier]

The upper Bay and Potomac in my opinion is where you want to be. Miles and miles and miles upon miles of fishiable water. Hundreds...........

Bring the tracker........... Keep the gas motor......... Plenty of opportunities

[clarker2000]

The bay and the potomac are great but a 16 ft tracker with a 40 hp isnt exactly what I would consider the best option for those areas.  Those places can get you in some serious trouble quickly.  Shearon Harris is not all to large but from what I gather the fishing is pretty darn good with some monsters coming out of there.  I wouldnt tell you to fish one over the other but your boat with a ray motor would be awesome on the reservoirs.  The one sucky thing about Maryland fishing is that there isnt a ton of lakes like down in the Raleigh area.  A one hour drive give or take from Raleigh and your sitting on Jordan, High Rock, Shearon Harris, Falls, Gaston, Kerr and the list goes on.  In Maryland like Creel said you have the bay, potomac, conowingo lake and then the electric only reservoirs; black hills, tridelphia, rocky gorge, loch raven, prettyboy, liberty, pinery run, stemers (small gas motors) and a few more.  Liberty is by far our largest reservoir (conowingo not included) and its probably less then 10 minutes from top to bottom on a relatively fast bass boat, if that were allowed. 

I love to fish all of the above areas including the bay but the lakes just offer a little bit more variety as they all fish completely different.   If you want to get out in the spring please send me a PM and I will get you out for a nice day on the reservoir.  Good luck.