St. Mary's Lake

St. Mary's Lake, in the middle of St. Mary's County, is a quiet, wooded, electric-motors-only lake inside St. Mary's River State Park. DNR's surveys find largemouth bass very abundant, with a good share of quality-size fish protected by a slot limit, and the lake is also a regular pick in DNR's reports for crappie and chain pickerel. A 7.5-mile trail circles the lake, so shore anglers can reach almost any cove.

When to fish

• Spring: crappie school on sunken wood and brush (April is prime); bass move up into the coves.
• Summer: bass around the wood, spatterdock patches and drop-offs early and late; sunfish for kids. Watch for algae mats in hot weather.
• Fall and winter: chain pickerel feed around submerged structure as the water cools, and crappie hold tight to deep structure.

Where to fish

• The coves, points and shoals of the lower basin, where DNR has sunk fish attractors along the drop-offs.
• The shallow, marshy upper end, with fallen trees and grass.
• The southeastern shore near the ramp: the easiest shore fishing, though the whole trail gives access.

How to fish it

• Bass: work downed trees, branches and grass; fly anglers use poppers and frog patterns. Keep only bass outside the protected slot.
• Crappie: small minnows or marabou jigs under a slip bobber near wood and brush.
• Pickerel and perch: minnow imitations and small jigs; single hooks make releases easier.

Getting there

Take MD 5 south of Leonardtown and turn onto Camp Cosoma Road to the park's lake entrance (Site 1), open from 6 a.m. (7 a.m. in winter) to sunset. The automated gate charges a day-use fee and takes cards only. Boats are limited to electric motors, and the spillway and dam outflow are off limits to fishing. You need a Maryland nontidal fishing license.