Best bass fishing from shore within 1 hour of Baltimore?

[cgcgraded]

I don't have a boat and I'm looking from some good places to fish from shore.  Currently I fish at stanbury pond (in dundalk) and hopkins creek (in es"woops") but am looking for some better fishing....I know loch raven is a great fishery but I'm not sure if you can fish from the banks there..

Any suggestions?
Thanks

[dmccunney]

As for Loch Raven, you might want to try the shore just south of the Dulaney Valley bridge, on the eastern side of the reservoir.  It gets deep pretty quickly there.  And, it's a nice hike.  I've also seen a few folks catching fish on the north side of the bridge, in the cove just on the north side of the bridge (eastern side still).

[bigjim5589]

Try Piney Run Reservoir in Carrol County, near Sykevilles, plenty of shore fishing there! 

Check the MD DNR website, they have a map that shows the public boat ramps in Md, and many places that have public boat ramps also have some shore fishing. 

[Chuck Tawney]

There are tons of places to fish from shore, just have to look around. OR, join a local club, as a rider. I know for a fact, almost everyone on here from MD would be willing to take ya along on a trip, for a day of fun fishing. Just ask around, talk to the boys on here, something will work out for ya. Im always willing.
                                                                              Chuck

[CapitanMike]

There is a ton of shore access (and very good fishing) around Loch Raven.

[cgcgraded]

thanks for all the replies guys, really appreciated

[Bob E NCBF]

You should be able to walk around all of Loch Raven on the trails surrounding it. Your best bet is find a trail and start walking. I have been doing it for years. Find a hole and fish it for a while then move to the next break. When the water is down in the summer it's much easier to fish since you don't have to walk on the trails you can walk right along the shore line. Plenty of fish. Try the outer rims of the grass if you can get to it when it comes up in late spring into summer.

[urasplanky]

I just found this forum because I was looking to ask this same question. I am just starting out fishing in the area and am looking for good spots. I tried Centennial Lake a couple of weeks ago and had no luck with fish but it was very easy to walk around the shore.

[MDFishing117]

if you cross Dulaney Valley Bridge going towards Towson there is a little spot for parking on your right... im sure there will be other cars there too, park there and cross the road and hike down through the woods to the water, theres some good fishing back there if you can find the spots.  Also if you go to the Loch Raven Fishing Center they rent boats out if you want to get out on the water.

[NitroBoy8]

Centennial Lake is wayyyy over fished. I grew up fishing it when i was younger when i lived in Elkridge. If i wasn't there I was down in Patapsco Valley State park fishing the river for trout and smallies. You might not catch a ton of fish but it sure was fun being around that river. Good luck

[Sam I am]

I have been fishing centennial in the evenings the last few weeks, from a boat... but the areas I am fishing are all shore accessible... I catch a bazillion squakers, but every trip I am pulling atleast one straight hog out. On thursday I took a freaking monster right off of the bed. The water in the lake is really warm already, 75-77 degrees, though after this cold front I am sure it will drop a few. They were in the dollar pads really good the other day... black jigs were getting a fish every few flips.

[zim]

Gunpowder River below the Loch is always worth a shot or two. Just below the lower dam it's wade worthy.
Parking may be an issue at the major crossings (Harford Rd, Belair Rd. etc.) but there's plenty of fishable water down there.
You could always sacrifice a few lures to the Rock Gods in the Susquehanna below Conowingo

[Creel Limit Zero]

FYI, for a decent price you can rent a row boat with a trolling motor at Loch Raven, and get to fish from a boat.  One word of caution though, if you want to venture far from the ramp, spring the extra $5 and get an extra battery. 

[luv2bass]

great places at loch raven to fish from shore