Fishing at Piney Run Park
FISHING Regulations
1. Fishing is permitted from authorized boats, piers, and shorelines during the park open season during park hours (sunrise to sunset): March 1 through November 30 each year. Excluded are dam structures, the wildlife management area off White Rock Road, and any steep embankment. Written permission from landowners is needed to cross private property.
2. Fishing is permitted from the shoreline ONLY from December 1 through February 28 each year.
3. Manner of Fishing: Rod, hook, and line only.
4. Ice fishing is strictly prohibited.
5. Fishing Permits: Anyone sixteen (16) years of age or older must possess a Maryland State Fishing license, which may be purchased at most Maryland sporting goods stores or online at the State of Maryland DNR website. A Piney Run daily use pass or season pass is also required.
6. Bank fishing on approved shorelines outside the recreation area and during park hours will be permitted proving one has a daily-use permit or season pass and written permission from private landowners whose property one crosses to reach the reservoir.
2025 Fishing Events at Piney Run Park
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Piney Run Park & Nature Center
30 Martz Road, Sykesville, MD 21784
410-795-5165 or pineyrunpark@carrollcountymd.gov
ANNUAL BIG FISH CONTEST
$1,000 prize for the largest fish caught in Piney Run Park's reservoir March 1-November 30, 2025. Normal park entrance fees apply. For questions and/or details about the contest call the park office at 410-795-5165.
Qualifications
- Fish MUST be caught at Piney Run Park's reservoir
- Fish MUST be legal in size and in-season
- Fish MUST be alive
- Fish MUST be weighed in, measured, and signed off by an authorized Piney Run Park Senior Staff member. Inquire at Boathouse or Gatehouse.
- Fish are measured by length; weight will break any ties
- Fish MUST be caught during park open hours only; 7am - sunset (unless tournament or late-night fishing occurs). Inquire at Boathouse or Gatehouse for specific times.
- Fish caught during Piney Run Park fishing tournaments and special events still apply to the contest
- ONLY ONE (1) FISH CAN WIN THE TOP $1,000 PRIZE. The angler who catches the largest fish of each species at Piney Run Park's reservoir during the 2025 Park season will win a 2026 season pass.
LATE-NIGHT FISHING EVENTS
1st Friday Night of each month the lake will be open until midnight for fishing. Normal park entrance fees apply. No pre-registration is necessary.
2025 DATES
| March 7 | April 4 | May 2 | June 6 | July 4 |
| August 1 | September 5 | October 3 | November 7 |
FISHING TOURNAMENTS
To register for any of the below tournaments, please use the online program registration site for pre-registration. Park vehicle entrance fees are waived for tournaments; however, an $10 boat launch fee applies.
Panfish Tournament - Bluegill, Crappie, Yellow Perch
Saturday, April 5, 2025 from 7am-12pm (Park gates open at 6:30am)
$10 boat launch fee applies for private boats; vehicle entrance fee is waived. Rental boats are available for $10 per boat, please call the office to reserve a boat.
Prize
$100 for biggest fish of each category. Biggest Fish gets a trophy.
Tournament Fee
Pre-registration: $10 per angler until 4pm on Friday, April 4, 2025
Day of: $15 per angler
Youth Fishing Derby (for ages 15 and under)
Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 7am-11am (Park Gates open at 6:30am)
$10 boat launch fee applies for private boats; vehicle entrance fee is waived. Rental boats are available for $10 per boat, please call the office to reserve a boat.
Tournament Fee
$10 per child
Rental boats are available for $10 per boat, please call the office to reserve a boat
Largemouth Bass Tournament I
Friday, June 20, 2025 from 6pm-11pm
$10 boat launch fee applies for private boats; vehicle entrance fee is waived.
Prizes
1st Place $200 + a trophy
2nd Place $150
3rd Place $100
Tournament Fee
Pre-registration: $15 per angler until 4pm on Thursday, June 19, 2025
Day of: $20 per angler
Rental boats are available for $20 per boat. Please call the office to reserve a boat.
Catfish Shootout
Friday July 11, 2025 from 6pm-11pm
$10 boat launch fee applies for private boats; vehicle entrance fee is waived.
Prize
1st Place $200 + a trophy
2nd Place $150
3rd Place $100
Tournament Fee
Pre-registration: $15 per angler until 4pm on Thursday, July 10, 2025
Day of: $20 per angler
Rental boats are available for $20 per boat. Please call the office to reserve a boat.
Largemouth Bass Tournament II
Saturday, August 23, 2025 from 7am-12pm (Park Gates open at 6:30am)
$10 boat launch fee applies for private boats; vehicle entrance fee is waived.
Prize
1st Place $200 + a trophy
2nd Place $150
3rd Place $100
Tournament Fee
Pre-registration: $15 per angler until 4pm on Friday, August 22, 2025
Day of: $20 per angler
Rental boats are available for $20 per boat. Please call the office to reserve a boat.
Striped Bass Showdown
Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 7am-12pm (Park Gates open at 6:30am)
$10 boat launch fee applies for private boats; vehicle entrance fee is waived.
Prize
1st Place $200 + a trophy
2nd Place $150
3rd Place $100
Tournament Fee
Pre-registration: $15 per angler until 4pm on Friday, October 1, 2025
Day of: $20 per angler
Rental boats are available for $20 per boat. Please call the office to reserve a boat.
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RESERVOIR AND FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
1. Wildlife Management Area – off White Rock Road is protected and set aside for the propagation of fish and other wildlife. Large pipes have been sunk in this area, and in other parts of the reservoir, by State Freshwater Fisheries personnel for the propagation of Channel catfish. Catfish need some form of cover in order to carry out their spawning activities. Excellent bird-watching opportunities await at the Management Area, however, ALL observing must be done from White Rock Road.
2. Reservoir Management – The reservoir’s fish are managed through the Maryland Freshwater Fisheries Division. Management activities include stockings, natural reproduction checks, creel census, fish habitat improvement, electrofishing survey, gill net survey, water quality data collection, and spot treatment of spiny naiad and nuisance aquatic vegetation. Fisheries personnel are consulted when yearly fishing events are planned to ensure the populations will be maintained.