Spring Trout Stocking Season Begins in Maryland

Hatcheries Providing 300,000 Fish Across State

With spring right around the corner, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is set to release hundreds of thousands of brown, golden, and rainbow trout across the state for its annual spring trout stocking. Crews will stock more than 300,000 trout in lakes, rivers, and streams in 18 Maryland counties and more than 130 locations from March through early June. 

The department raises the majority of these trout in the state’s hatcheries, including the Albert M. Powell Hatchery and Bear Creek Hatchery, and through a partnership with the privately owned Mettiki Hatchery.

In recent years, Maryland’s exceptional trout fishery has gained national and statewide attention from avid trout anglers. 

“We are committed to providing the best possible trout fishery,” Coldwater Program Manager Marshall Brown said. “We take pride in our work, and our dedicated staff want to create a unique and memorable fishing experience for all anglers.”

Trout production and stocking is funded by revenue from fishing licenses, trout stamps, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Anglers should consult the 2020 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing for specific details on daily creel limits and other important information. The department’s trout stocking website, social media platform, and electronic newsletters provide updated information on which locations are being stocked. In addition, anglers may call our stocking hotline for a weekly summary at 800-688-3467.