Broadford Lake

Broadford Lake is the Town of Oakland's 140-acre water-supply lake and park in southern Garrett County, a family-friendly spot that DNR calls a great multi-species impoundment. It's best known for panfish, including big crappie, and also has quality largemouth and smallmouth bass. DNR stocks rainbow trout each spring, plus tiger muskie and striped bass to thin the panfish and grow bigger ones.

When to fish

• Spring: trout stocking, and crappie fishing that DNR has reported as very good.
• Fall: the lake closes to fishing for the winter, so plan trips between early spring and late fall.

Where to fish

• The shallow north end: submerged stumps, lily pads and weedy flats, which DNR calls ideal shallow-water habitat for many species.
• The creek channel: it winds through the soft-bottomed main basin toward the dam.
• The deep south end: underwater points dropping to deep water, hard-bottom humps and brush piles DNR has added as fish habitat.
• The shoreline: the town park has plenty of bank access.

Getting there

The lake is in Broadford Lake Park off MD Route 135 near Mountain Lake Park and Oakland. The park charges a daily admission fee and is open from 7 a.m. to dusk; fishing is seasonal, so check the Town of Oakland's dates. Boats are limited to electric motors (a gas outboard can stay on the boat if it's trimmed out of the water), paddlers must use the two designated launches, and the buoyed swim beach is off limits. Statewide limits apply. You need a Maryland nontidal fishing license, plus a trout stamp if you fish for trout.