Maryland Trout Stocking
Each year in the spring and the fall, the Maryland DNR stocks rainbows and brown trout in many streams and ponds through out the state. Our chapter assists with the stocking of the Upper Patuxent, the fly fishing only section below Brighton Dam, and the delay harvest section of the Middle Patuxent. If you are interested in assisting with these activities, please contact Jay Sheppard at
2023 Fall Stockings
October 18, 2023
The Middle Patuxent Delayed Harvest section was stocked with 400 Brown Trout.
2023 Spring Stockings
April 3, 2023
Another 700 rainbows were float stocked in the Patuxent River tailwater below Brighton Dam (flies only).
March 8, 2023
PPTU volunteers helped stock some of our local streams today with rainbows. Here are the waters and some details.
Upper Patuxent River special mgt area: 200 at each of three bridges: rt 94, Hipsley Mill, & Howard Chapel. All stocked at the bridges or just downstream.
Patuxent R. tailwater below Brighton Dam (flies only): ~800 float stocked from head of the FFO water down to mouth of Hawlings on Montgomery County side.
Middle Patuxent delayed harvest section: ~225 float stocked from Eden Brook downstream about a mile, maybe 1.5 miles. This will almost certainly be the last stocking of this stream, Please post here any and all trout caught AND seen on this river after today. I will be truly surprised if any can be found a week from today.
Members helping me stock today: Bob Bokulic, Ron Briggs, Jim Flynn, Ernie Branson, Ron Kerrick, Mike Frey, Jim Senker. THANX guys!!! Good job by all.
Jay
March 1, 2023
On Wednesday, March 1st, our stalwart volunteers float stocked about 1500 large brown trout into the upper Pax special area and into the flies only section below Brighton Dam. All reports were of very nice trout, some over 16"! The taikwater flows were briefly raised the next morning but are now back to a quite fishable level. Excellent flow is happening in the upper Pax.
The trout in the upper mainstem were stocked between rt 94 and Howard Chapel. None were intentionally dropped at the bridges, A short hike should get you to these initial stocking points.
There is a great cleared trail going upstream on the Howard County side from Haviland Mill. Just park in the county parking lot just north of the bridge. There is a zig-zag trail along the Montgomery County side going downstream from the bridge. Fishermen are allowed to cross the big meadow downstream of the bridge, courtesy of the owner, Sam Haviland. At the downstream end of the meadow he has a ramp going down to a ford--easy access for fishers.
Thank to all who helped stock yesterday:
Dave Astin, Mike Bovitch, Ernie Branson, Ron Briggs, Ian Gifford, Brian Hepler, Bob Kaiser, Ron Kerrick, Ray Miller, Richard Moore, Steve Naugle, Peter Schuler, Steve Shaw, Don Vance, Edwin Waleryszak, and Bob Zukowski.
THANX, guys! Job well deone!!
Next Wednesday we will stock the same river sections with rainbows. We will stock some into the Middle Patuxent, too, that day.
Spring has sprung, Go fish!!
Jay<
For up-to-date stocking information throughout the state, go to the Maryland DNR website.
Photos from 2021 Stockings (courtesy of Adam Rice)
Photos from 2019 Stockings
Photos from 2018 Spring Stockings
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A Video and Photos from Previous Years
In the spring of 2015, Ron Brooks made this excellent video of PPCTU Stocking Below Brighton Dam.
Thanks Ron for your efforts!
Joe Kunsman provided the following photos and footnotes of their crew stocking below Brighton Dam. Thanks Joe.
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