Hydroelectric reservoir (state managed)

Deep Creek Lake

Garrett County, Maryland

Deep Creek Lake is Maryland's largest lake, in the mountains of Garrett County. It is known for walleye, smallmouth bass, big yellow perch and northern pike over 40 inches.

Air temp in Mc Henry, MD Loading current temperature…

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Deep Creek Lake (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area3,900 acres

Max depth75 ft

Shoreline69 mi

Boat motorsNo set limit; boats max 26 ft and engines max 550 cubic inches

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Walleye●●●●○

Drift a live shiner on a split-shot rig along the Route 219 bridge riprap.

Smallmouth Bass●●●●○

Fish the steep rocky banks near the dam.

Yellow Perch●●●●○

Jig a 2-inch tube around the Glendale bridge pilings.

Northern Pike●●●○○

Try Marsh Run Cove early or late when boat traffic is light.

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.

When they bite

Month-by-month activity for each target species.

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Walleye
Smallmouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike

SlowFairGoodHot

Boat launches

2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Deep Creek Lake State Park Boat RampFee
Maryland DNR ramp in the state park, Swanton; open 24 hours, fee by honor box or lake permitDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See Maryland DNR or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.

Species	Min size	Daily limit
Walleye Protected slot 18-21 in	15 in; 18-21 in slot protected (release)	5 / day

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Maryland Department of Natural Resources ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Lazy MinnowNearby
23250 Garrett Hwy, McHenry, MD(301) 387-1723 Directions ↗
Lake&Lure Country StoreNearby
2205 Glendale Rd, Swanton, MD(301) 501-2329 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Deep Creek Lake ↗

Local tips

Walleye season is closed March 1 to April 15, and fish from 18 to 21 inches must be released.
Deep drop-offs with standing timber near the Route 219 bridge are good ice fishing spots.
Beaching a boat is not allowed, but nearly the whole shoreline is open for bank fishing.

Angler reports

Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Deep Creek Lake.

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View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.