Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge Reservoirs

Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge (officially the T. Howard Duckett Reservoir) are the two WSSC Water drinking-water reservoirs on the Patuxent River along the Howard–Montgomery county line, surrounded by about 6,000 acres of wooded watershed. They're permit-only, no-outboard lakes with a lot to offer: Triadelphia is one of DNR's two best reservoirs for landlocked striped bass, holds stocked true-strain walleye and northern pike, and produces big crappie, and both reservoirs have largemouth bass, chain pickerel and perch.

When to fish

• Spring: the reservoirs open once the ice is gone (ice fishing is banned), and crappie bite small minnows and jigs.
• Summer: stripers stay deep. Algae blooms can bring water-contact advisories, as they did on both reservoirs in 2026, but fishing stays open.
• Fall: DNR calls it one of the best times for landlocked stripers, which move shallower as the water cools; walleye and crappie are active too.

Where to fish

• Deep edges: where anglers slow-troll for striped bass.
• Shoreline areas at the six WSSC recreation areas: more than 16 miles of shore fishing, reached only from designated access points.
• Big Branch (Triadelphia) and Supplee Landing (Rocky Gorge): among the access points DNR lists; Supplee Landing has a ramp.

How to fish it

For stripers, DNR says experienced anglers slow-troll deep-running or large diving crankbaits and jerkbaits along deep edges from kayaks and canoes, or fish bucktails dressed with soft plastic shads. For crappie, small minnows or marabou jigs under a bobber are a proven method.

Getting there

You need a WSSC watershed use permit to set foot on the property or launch a boat (free for people 65 and older and for military; children under 16 must be with a permit holder). Buy it online or at the Brighton Dam Visitor Center, and call WSSC's recreation line first to make sure the area you want is open. In season the watershed opens a half hour before sunrise and closes at sunset. Boaters and paddlers must wear life jackets, and stand-up paddleboards without a fixed seat aren't allowed. During an algae advisory, rinse off after any contact with the water, wash fillets well and don't eat fish livers or organs. Landlocked stripers have their own size rules. You need a Maryland nontidal fishing license.