When the weather turns warm, it's time to head to your favorite river or lake to catch some fish. Rockville, Maryland, has a number of spots in and around the area that are great for fishing. Here's a look at some of the best. more Seneca Creek State Park About a 15-minute drive from Rockville, Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland, features 6,300 acres of land, including Clopper Lake. The park's Boat Center rents different sizes of vessels for spending the day on the lake. The park also allows private boats and vessels out on the lake as long as they don't have a gas motor and they're able to be launched by hand. If you want to know where the good fishing spots are, you can attend the park's Take Me Fishing program held during the summer months. Morgan Run Natural Environment Area Just under an hour away from Rockville, you'll find the Morgan Run Natural Environment Area in Westminster, Maryland. It's made up of over 2,000 acres of land and includes trails for hiking and horseback riding. This fishing spot has a catch-and-release trout stream. The stream has an accessible ramp for anglers to use to catch trout. Mason Neck State Park Take a drive 35 minutes south of Rockville, and you'll be in Mason Neck State Park in Northern Virginia. This is a perfect spot for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, boating, and, of course, fishing. You must have a valid Maryland or Virginia fishing license to fish at Mason Neck. Brackish-water and freshwater fish can be caught here. There's also a large picnic area where you can eat when you're not out on the water. Patapsco Valley State Park Patapsco Valley State Park is a 14,000-acre park east of Rockville that you could reach in about 40 minutes. The Daniels area of the park is home to the Daniels Dam, where anglers can catch small mouth bass above and below the dam. Fishing or any other activity within 300 feet of this or any dam on the Patapsco River is prohibited. The Hollofield area allows fishing on the Patapsco River, which is accessed via the Union Dam and River Ridge Trails. The McKeldin area has shallow pools and faster-moving water because the north and south parts of the Patapsco River meet here. It's a good place to find trout. Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary The Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary is about one hour south of Rockville in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. It has five pools open to the public for fishing between April and October every year. The ponds are stocked with bluegill and bass, along with other species. Fishing is regulated to help manage the populations in the pond, so only two fishing lines are permitted at one time. Maryland is a fisher's paradise. Whether you're looking to spend a few hours fishing as part of your day or to get away for the weekend completely, you can get to a favorite fishing spot just a short drive from Rockville. Be sure to check out one of these spots during your next fishing trip. Some rights reserved by vastateparksstaff
