Written By Steve Jones
“The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.” -Babylonian Proverb
You have probably seen the print and television ad campaigns that promote the sport of recreational fishing. The series features the theme of “Take Me Fishing,” and suggests that this relaxing activity can be enjoyed by families as well as solo sportsmen. The ad sponsors may be onto something.
“My dad has always been a big fisherman, and he took me a lot when I was young,” said Sykesville resident Jay Fetterman, who grew up in Montoursville, Pennsylvania and fishes at Piney Run Reservoir. “I’ve taken my kids (Jordan, Adam, and Luke) to Piney Run and to the lake where I used to fish back home. It’s very relaxing, and it gives me a chance to be with them.”
Whether you plan to go it alone or fish with the family, there are plenty of serene and scenic places in Carroll County where you can practice the art of fishing. The busy season of spring has passed, and school is a memory until late August. Summer has arrived, and now is the perfect time to try your luck.
An abundance of fishing areas, ranging from one-acre ponds to large reservoirs, awaits local anglers. The county is not a place for deep-sea fishing enthusiasts who are looking for large aquatic creatures. But if you are seeking a quiet interlude, beautiful scenery and a solid piscatorial experience, the fishing spots of Carroll County should offer the perfect combination.
Prime fishing spots are located in every region of the county. Anglers can fish from the shores of the Patapsco River, which forms the southern border of the county, or cast a line in the westernmost fishing area, the Monocacy River.
The largest of the seven freshwater fishing spots are located in the southern end of the county. Liberty Reservoir, the sprawling watershed that borders Carroll and Baltimore Counties, offers miles of fishable territory. Piney Run Reservoir, which sits just six miles from Liberty, is an inviting 300-acre parcel.
If you want a smaller place to fish, there are seven other choice locations that are between one and five acres. Four of these spots are in or near Westminster. Lake Hashawha, situated within the confines of the Hashawha Environmental Nature Center, provides a scenic fishing environment. Anglers can also choose between Bennett Cerf Pond, the Westminster Community Pond, or the Landon C. Burns Pond, which is located at the Carroll County Farm Museum. The Taneytown Rod and Gun Pond, the North Carroll Community Pond, and Beaver Run Watershed, which is located just north of Liberty Reservoir, complete the county’s fishing scene.
Several of these fishing holes are referred to as designated trout waters. The Department of Natural Resources stocks these ponds several times a year with a limited number of trout. Fishermen are restricted to a five-trout per day limit. Piney Run Reservoir, Landon C. Burns, Beaver Run, Taneytown, and Westminster fall into this category.
Morgan Run is the county’s designated trout management area. Fishermen must have both a fishing license and a special trout stamp to use Morgan Run. Only artificial lures can be used, and anglers must release the trout immediately after the catch.
The southern end of the county also provides a program for special-needs anglers. Known as Project Access, the program affords them the opportunity to use the facilities on Morgan Run at Klees Mill Road. Mobility-impaired anglers can also enjoy the activity at Piney Run Park.
Because the area is officially controlled, the sport does require some preparation beyond the purchasing of poles and lures. All anglers 16 years old and older must buy a fishing license to fish in public waters.
Fishermen are never far from places that sell licenses in Carroll County, which are located in Eldersburg (KMart and Wal-Mart), Hampstead (True Value and Wal-Mart), Mt. Airy (Wal-Mart and The Gun Shack), Westminster (Wal-Mart), Union Bridge (The Gun Cellar), and Taneytown (Fritz’s TV Bait and Tackle). Licenses cost $10.50, and fishermen 65 years old and older can buy them for just $5.
The diversity of fishing areas offers a good experience, not only for veteran anglers, but for young people who are casting a line for the first time.
“Carroll County has a number of popular reservoirs and large lakes that have an extremely high water quality,” said Bob Lunsford, the Assistant Director of Inland Fisheries for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Freshwater Fisheries Service. “On the other hand, farm ponds and storm water management areas provide great recreational fishing possibilities. Neighborhood ponds where kids can fish on their own have a great deal of value.”
