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Fishing Prettyboy Reservoir: what the data says
1,500-acre reservoir near Hereford. The lake tops out around 129 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Prettyboy Reservoir
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 27 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Prettyboy Reservoir
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 113 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 63 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 43 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 35 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 27 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 26 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 15 ft
- Marina / dock area: dock line, around 12 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
- Grave Run inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 2 ft
- Compass Run inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Prettyboy Reservoir?
Prettyboy Reservoir is about 129 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Prettyboy Reservoir?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass on Prettyboy Reservoir.
Where is the best fishing spot on Prettyboy Reservoir?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Prettyboy Reservoir?
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Gunpowder Falls · Loch Raven Reservoir · Liberty Reservoir · T. Howard Duckett Reservoir · Little Seneca Lake · Potomac River (Upper)
See how Prettyboy Reservoir stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Maryland
Browse all Maryland fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.