Monocacy River

The Monocacy River winds 58 miles through Frederick County from the Pennsylvania line to the Potomac, a shallow, wooded river of riffles and long pools that's easy to wade and paddle. It's a smallmouth bass river first, with sunfish and channel catfish, and DNR counts it among the state's good smallmouth waters alongside the upper Potomac. Its lowest stretch, from Buckeystown Dam down to the Potomac, is catch and release for bass.

When to fish

• Spring: smallmouth are active once the water warms; DNR reports anglers catching and releasing nice bass in April.
• Summer: low, clear water makes the fish wary, so fish early and late with light line.
• Late summer and early fall: DNR has called the lower river a good smallmouth spot in September.
• After floods: big spring floods can hurt the year's bass spawn, as in 2025, but the adult fishery carries on.

Where to fish

• Current breaks and ledges: DNR's recommended targets for smallmouth.
• Deeper pockets and pools: where bass hold in low water.
• The upper river around Woodsboro: the Fly Fishing Trail site, with access at the Mumma Ford Road, Rocky Ridge Road and Legore Bridge Road bridges and at Creagerstown Park.
• In and around Frederick: Riverside Center Park and Pinecliff Park have launches.
• Buckeystown Dam to the Potomac: the catch-and-release bass area, with access at Criss Ford and the Monocacy Natural Resources Management Area off Route 28.

How to fish it

DNR suggests root beer-colored tubes, paddletails, swim jigs, swimbaits and small crankbaits worked near current breaks, ledges and deeper pockets, with long casts and light line when the water is low. For fly anglers, the Fish & Hunt Maryland guide suggests a 4 or 5 weight with poppers, woolly buggers and rubber-legged insect patterns for bass and sunfish, and minnow patterns for channel catfish.

Getting there

Most access is at bridge crossings with small roadside pull-offs, and at county and city parks such as Creagerstown Park (gravel lot and ramp), Riverside Center Park and Pinecliff Park. About half the river is navigable by canoe or kayak, depending on water levels. Release all bass from Buckeystown Dam down to the Potomac. You need a Maryland nontidal fishing license.