Reservoir · Maryland
Prettyboy Reservoir
Prettyboy Reservoir
Reservoir · Maryland
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
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Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Prettyboy Reservoir.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Prettyboy is the upper Baltimore water-supply reservoir on the Gunpowder, a largemouth-and-smallmouth lake with catfish, perch, bluegill, and chain pickerel. It is not the Gunpowder Falls tailwater at Glencoe and not Loch Raven downstream.
Target species
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MD DNR hotspot index names largemouth bass; BBAR 18: high-quality fishery with largemouth and smallmouth co-dominant predators.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MD DNR hotspot index names smallmouth bass; BBAR 18: smallmouth abundant especially in larger size classes.
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MD DNR hotspot index names bluegill sunfish at Prettyboy Reservoir.
Chain Pickerel
Esox niger
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MD DNR Dec 18 2024 report names Prettyboy among central standout reservoirs and states all those reservoirs hold excellent chain pickerel.
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MD DNR hotspot index names channel catfish at Prettyboy Reservoir.
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MD DNR hotspot index names yellow perch at Prettyboy Reservoir.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
Steep, wooded Gunpowder drinking-water pool with rocky banks that favor smallmouth and flooded coves that hold largemouth, pickerel, and panfish. The reservoir identity stops at the dam; the tailwater below is a different destination.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Baltimore City Watershed permit rules govern Prettyboy shoreline and any allowed boats. Confirm current watershed access points and closures; do not treat Glencoe tailwater parking as Prettyboy lake access. Catalog coordinates are a pool reference.
Stocking information
Prettyboy’s bass, catfish, perch, bluegill, and pickerel are established reservoir fish in existing notes. Confirm any current MD DNR stocking on the official schedule; do not inherit Liberty or Loch Raven stocking history onto this pool.
Official sources
Maryland freshwater rules apply on Prettyboy, and Baltimore water-supply permits and shoreline closures can change separately from the Gunpowder tailwater. Verify current MD DNR and watershed postings for the reservoir itself.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Maryland
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
Management Category
Reservoir / catalog-visible Unavailable
Regulation Scope
Prettyboy Reservoir
Regulation Summary
Maryland freshwater fishing regulations apply; confirm current seasons, access, and limits.
Target Species
Largemouth Bass
Public Access
Public
Description
Baltimore water-supply reservoir. Distinct from Gunpowder Falls at Glencoe tailwater. Catalog-visible Unavailable under accepted MIDATL-1A / POLICY-1: kind=reservoir, no qualifying same-lake USGS water-temperature station, ordinary L-C/L-D Estimated prohibited. Water-supply reservoir; ordinary L-C/L-D prohibited. Elevation, outlet/tailwater, tributary, and nearby-lake readings are not lake-body thermal. Unavailable means insufficient information, not Poor. Confirm current regulations and access. Coordinates are a public lake reference point, not a verified launch pin.
