Unicorn Lake

Unicorn Lake is a 43-acre millpond-style lake at Millington, in northern Queen Anne's County near the head of the Chester River, next to DNR's Unicorn Lake Fish Hatchery. It's a year-round, family-friendly fishery with mostly undeveloped shoreline, an accessible fishing pier, and a spillway and tailrace below the dam that DNR calls excellent spring fishing for bluegill, white and yellow perch and herring. Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, crappie and catfish round out the lake.

When to fish

• Winter: chain pickerel and largemouth bass.
• Spring: pickerel, bass, crappie and yellow and white perch in the lake; perch, bluegill and herring in the tailrace; stocked trout below the spillway.
• May: excellent bluegill.
• Summer and fall: bass, crappie and sunfish; stocked trout return below the spillway in fall.

Where to fish

• The spillway and the stream below the dam: DNR's spring hotspot, and a good place for beginners.
• Brush, fallen trees and lily pad edges: the Fish & Hunt Maryland guide's recommended targets in the lake.
• The accessible fishing pier and shoreline.

How to fish it

The state fly guide suggests poppers, woolly buggers and rubber-legged patterns for bass, crappie and panfish, and minnow patterns for pickerel and perch.

Getting there

From the Bay Bridge, follow Route 301 north, then MD 544 and MD 313 to Fishing Lake Lane and Unicorn Fishing Lake Park, which has a paved lot, a concrete ramp and an accessible pier. You need a Maryland nontidal fishing license, plus a trout stamp if you fish for trout.