Fishing at Hughesville Pond, Charles County, Maryland

• Overview

  Out in Charles County, Maryland, sits Hughesville Pond. The water sits 190 feet up. On water this small, stealth matters more than range. Most waters listed here for Charles County are larger. The nearest place of any size is Hughesville, 1.5 miles away. The big place round here is Alexandria, 22 miles distant. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Hughesville Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Charles County: blue catfish, blueback herring, alewife and largemouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Treat Hughesville Pond as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 77°F in July and bottom out at 34°F in January. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. It holds true on Hughesville Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Gilbert Pond, 2.4 miles away. For Hughesville Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.