18 Reservoir Fishing in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

• Overview

  In Maryland, 18 Reservoir falls inside Anne Arundel County. It sits in rolling hill country. Fort Meade sits 1.7 miles from the bank. For a city, Baltimore is 16 miles off. Alternatives close at hand: 0.7 miles away is Burba Lake Marion lies 3.5 miles on, 4.9 miles away is Snowden Pond, Cash Lake lies 4.9 miles on and 5.4 miles away is Redington Lake. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on 18 Reservoir

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Across Anne Arundel County, recorded fish include striped bass, common carp, blue catfish and white perch. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of this water is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 77°F; by January the average is down near 33°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. This water runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Burba Lake, 0.7 miles out. For this water, the notice at the access point is the final word.