Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources will begin the 2026 trout stocking season in late-January/early-February and should continue through April. The department will take a break in the summer and then resume stocking in Fall 2026. Here’s the full list of local stockings. Again, DNR should begin stocking this month, but we’re keeping an eye on the weather, which plays into the when and where of possible stockings.
Below the table of trout stocking updates, you’ll find the key to abbreviations, special closure area notices, and a link to the state’s stocking map. Put-and-take areas have a five-trout limit and specific spring closures depending on location. Consult the Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing for closure dates and special management area restrictions. The daily limit in areas that are not put-and-take or special management areas is two trout with no minimum size and no closed season.
According the DNR, “Maryland’s coldwater hatcheries produce approximately 240,000 adult rainbow, golden rainbow, and brown trout annually to meet the demands of the Put-and-Take stocking program. More than 100 waterbodies in 19 counties are stocked. The trout stocking program is funded by the sale of nontidal fishing licenses, trout stamps, and federal Sport Fish Restoration Program funds.” Don’t forget to purchase your trout stamp prior to fishing for the species.
Species Codes: RB = Rainbow Trout; GN = Golden Trout; BN = Brown Trout
Some trout fishing areas are subject to the 2025 Closure Schedule.
- Closure 0 means no restrictions and trout fishing is allowed.
- Closure Period 1 means areas are closed from 10 pm March 9 until 6:30 am March 29, 2025
And in 2025, closure period 2 waters were eliminated and converted to closure 1 or 0.
View the trout stocking locations map.
