Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents here on the public fishing scene in Maryland. These lakes are worth a try if you are looking for new water...

CUNNINGHAM FALLS LAKE...In Frederick County near Thurmont. Trolling motors only. 60 acres. Good bluegill, red ear and crappie opts with stocked trout in spring and fall. Big red ears...excellent bass lake with 3 to 5 pounders available. They feed on trout in the spring.

Greenbriar Lake, Washington County...another small but good panfish lake with gills, red ears and pumpkinseeds. Stocked trout again and big bass feed on them. Wouldn't be surprised if a 12 pound largemouth came from here one day.

Rocky Gap Lake, or Lake Habeeb...290 acres, a bit west at Flintstone MD but has all the panfish species with quality gills and red ears leading the way. Trolling motors again, camping and cabins in the park for overnight. Big stocked trout and bass over ten pounds have been recorded over the years. Big channel cat options and some crappies.

Black Hills Lake, Montgomery County...550 acres and has lots of panfish, although somewhat smaller in average size than some of the other lakes. Hydrilla issues in the summer, good bass. Maybe a few leftover tiger muskies from past stockings.

Piney Run..Carroll county owned and operated. Despite a ton of regulations, this, for my money, is still the best small lake venue in the state, with gills, crappies, yellow perch and big channel cats. Many 3 to 5 pound bass and the striper fishery is peaking now with 10 to 20 pound fish in the mix, even bigger. Great multispecies fishing here.

Centennial Lake, Howard County...small 43 acre lake with crappies, gills and the occassional hawg bass. Some channel cats. Big pumpkinseeds. You can rent kayaks here or fish from the bank. Trolling motors again. Again, stocked trout action in the spring.

Any lake that recieves a stocking of trout has the potential to produce trophy largemouth bass. This is especially true of the smaller lakes under 100 acres.

hope this helps...

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Your knowledge of MD fishing never ends does it!  I'll bookmark this for sure.

Thanks Chris...but keep in mind that these are basic guidelines for these waters. watch water levels as they drop Cunningham Fall down sometimes or lower the others depending on repairs and such to infrastructures. Weather plays a huge role in turning fish on, or off. Hope this helps a bit.

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Sunrise Shellcracker…..7/23/2025

"I love your kind of fishing!"
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Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Sunrise Shellcracker…..7/23/2025

"I’m very fortunate that the fishing  in coastal North Carolina is so great and most…"
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JULYWP

"Summer colors on this white perch!"
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JULYP

"Nice Yellow John….good colors"
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Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Often bass fisherman will catch Warmouth on 9” worms……..they. don’t fight…"
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Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"This is a great comparison John…..I added another photo to give perspective….."
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Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Sunrise Shellcracker…..7/23/2025

"I sure envy you, enjoy!"
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John Sheehan replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Hey Jeffrey! Does the Warmouth have about the same sized Mouth as a Black Crappie of equal size, or…"
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Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
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Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Some quality Warmouth I caught in my early years on the Albemarle….."
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Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
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Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
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Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
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Jeffrey D. Abney replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Thanks for sharing John……you have patterned your available species pretty good over…"
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John Sheehan replied to Jeffrey D. Abney's discussion Panfish Species of North America- Which Ones Have You Caught?
"Only caught five of these Species up here in New Jersey. Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Red Breasted…"
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Crackers Saved This Morning Behind A Cold Front…..7/23/2025

If I get out the remainder of July it will probably be a crappie stalk on the coastal marsh……
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"Slow Moving Cold Front Went Through Overnight and Shifted the Wind to the North so our rivers were dumped, but we wanted to go anyway…."
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