Liberty Reservoir Bass Fishing Reports

[fishsticks2007]

Thanks for the tips! Any idea of water depth around that area? What about structure to fish?

[BenFishing]

Thanks for the tips! Any idea of water depth around that area? What about structure to fish?

Not sure about depth.  I was fishing fairly shallow areas, hitting bass on beds.  There are a number of fallen trees in that area, just gotta hike around and hit them up.  I know there are plenty of drop-offs, but I didn't see a lot or rocks/boulders in that area.

[fishsticks2007]

I will be buying a small bass boat soon and cant seem to find the restrictions regarding the electric motor only rule. Would I need to remove the gas powered outboard from the boat or simply remove the prop? Also is there a limited number of permits issued for the lake? Maryland has very scetchy dnr website with limited info as I can tell.

[20inchbass]

I will be buying a small bass boat soon and cant seem to find the restrictions regarding the electric motor only rule. Would I need to remove the gas powered outboard from the boat or simply remove the prop? Also is there a limited number of permits issued for the lake? Maryland has very scetchy dnr website with limited info as I can tell.

Not only can you not use the gas motor on these lakes, but you may as well not even have it. If you get a permit to fish liberty, prettyboy, or loch raven, you cannot take your boat anywhere else, period. Its the law. So there is no point in having the gas motor because you will never be able to use it. That's why no one on the reservoir ever has one, because if you have a permit for any of the lakes, that boat can only be used on those 3 lakes and nowhere else.

[20inchbass]

And yes there is a limited number of permits. For loch raven I think they only sell 600 and if you want one of them you have to buy them as soon as they open in the spring or they sometimes sell out. For liberty and prettyboy there is a joint permit but its a lot and I don't think they ever sell out.

[fishsticks2007]

Wow md is strict! Thanks!

[Chris Penning]

Thanks for the tips! Any idea of water depth around that area? What about structure to fish?

Any chance on a report?  I'm just starting off my bass fishing career and looking for spots to start.  Like you, I'll be fishing from shore and since I have little to no practical experience in bass fishing aside from what little research I've done the last week or so, I'd love to here from others so I'm not idly throwing my time away.  Plus its a nice little drive away from where I'm at (Odenton) so I'd rather not waste time when I don't have too.

Regards,
Chris

[fishsticks2007]

The suggested on shore location looked like it would be decent but its a small clearing which already had people fishing  there, so we left and went to Piney run park. They wanted $10 to enter the park so we turned around just went to Triadelphia reservoir. No luck there. Going to buy a boat soon so we can actually fish not just fight for a few feet of shore. Good luck and post how you did!

[Chris Penning]

Good luck and post how you did!

Thanks for taking the time to respond and the well wishes Sticks!  I'll be sure to throw up some posts and hopefully a few pics of success to go with it!  Good luck to you as well and enjoy the money pit (I'm just jealous I can't afford one right now!).

Regards,
Chris

[BenFishing]

The suggested on shore location looked like it would be decent but its a small clearing which already had people fishing  there, so we left and went to Piney run park. They wanted $10 to enter the park so we turned around just went to Triadelphia reservoir. No luck there. Going to buy a boat soon so we can actually fish not just fight for a few feet of shore. Good luck and post how you did!

From the parking lot, there were trails off both sides.  One side only has a small clearing, and then a couple other areas with a little room to cast.
The other side has access to a lot of shoreline.  It's a bit of hiking, but I walked for 30 minutes and still didn't come to a spot I couldn't keep walking along the shore.

[LURECOLLECTOR]

From the parking lot, there were trails off both sides.  One side only has a small clearing, and then a couple other areas with a little room to cast.
The other side has access to a lot of shoreline.  It's a bit of hiking, but I walked for 30 minutes and still didn't come to a spot I couldn't keep walking along the shore.

if you go to the second boat ramp walk to the left there is a trail all the way around to a small island   you will see it as you crosss the bridge walk through the water about a foot deep and fish from the other side no one will bother you there we use to fish there years ago some guy use to wade out and catch bass with a fly rod and flys . and some times you will hook up with a striper 

[TProud]

anyone heading out this weekend? Im thinking about trying sunday out hoping the water will have settled down.

[BenFishing]

I said that once I got around to it, I'd post a photo of the first fish I caught at Liberty.  This girl was 2 1/2 to 3 pounds, caught in early May.  The lure she hit is right above her head.



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[20inchbass]

We went fishing today, the first day of bass season. There was a tournament being held but we didn't have any trouble fishing where ever we wanted to (which probably means we weren't fishing in the right places haha). But between my Dad and I we caught 14 bass and a few sunfish as by-catches. No real big bass. I caught 2 early on topwater then the rest of the bass came on senkos. Then as we wear headed back in to the dock we came across a very small fawn that couldn't get back up the bank. So we coaxed it along to a spot where it could finally get back up the bank and he/she ran off.


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[LURECOLLECTOR]

nice going on the fish  we never did have any luck fishing there  what color senkos were you using i have only caught a few  bass on green and white mixed senkos thanks to a post on here

[20inchbass]

nice going on the fish  we never did have any luck fishing there  what color senkos were you using i have only caught a few  bass on green and white mixed senkos thanks to a post on here

honestly, 90% of our bass come off of senkos this time of the year and all spring. We use green-pumpkin or watermelon with red flake. It all depends on how cloudy it is, but usually it doesn't make a whole lot of a difference. But I'm going to start experimenting with more colors a little just for fun.

[BenFishing]

honestly, 90% of our bass come off of senkos this time of the year and all spring. We use green-pumpkin or watermelon with red flake. It all depends on how cloudy it is, but usually it doesn't make a whole lot of a difference. But I'm going to start experimenting with more colors a little just for fun.

Don't know if it will do any good, but I'd try cotton candy.  A few years ago, that color was everywhere, and it worked great for me.  Now, I can't find it anywhere.  I have a few curly tails left, and those are doing me good so far.  I need to search the internet again to see if I can find the cotton candy senkos.

[rhutch]

bass tackle depot has cotton candy senkos made by ouzo,wacky worm also has them but the color is different from most other makers but does work

[20inchbass]

Don't know if it will do any good, but I'd try cotton candy.  A few years ago, that color was everywhere, and it worked great for me.  Now, I can't find it anywhere.  I have a few curly tails left, and those are doing me good so far.  I need to search the internet again to see if I can find the cotton candy senkos.

I do have some so I'll give them a try next time.

[colby]

Don't know if it will do any good, but I'd try cotton candy.  A few years ago, that color was everywhere, and it worked great for me.  Now, I can't find it anywhere.  I have a few curly tails left, and those are doing me good so far.  I need to search the internet again to see if I can find the cotton candy senkos.

You can try the ouzo senkos that @rhutch recommends or you can look into zoom soft plastics they still make a few different types in cotton candy colored baits I have nice luck with the zoom salty centipede

[20inchbass]

I went Sunday and became really frustrated. I finished with 7 largemouth topping at 14.5 inches for the biggest, my Dad caught none. Not a great day to say the least. All were caught on T-rigged soft plastics on weed beds. I'm planning on fishing the edges of those weed beds next time.

[BigBee]

Just curious - saw a guy with a chain pic on the MD DNR fishing report - said it was caught in Liberty??  Anybody ever catch a pickle in Liberty???  Loch Raven they're everywhere - but Liberty??

[20inchbass]

Just curious - saw a guy with a chain pic on the MD DNR fishing report - said it was caught in Liberty??  Anybody ever catch a pickle in Liberty???  Loch Raven they're everywhere - but Liberty??

i saw it too and questioned it as well. I've never seen nor caught one but that's not to say they aren't in there.

[friendswithjunebug]

I've have just started shoreline fishing Liberty this summer.  So far i've been hiking around the northern part, mostly from Deer Park road access.  Any pointers on location and lures would be VERY appreciated.  So far I have not come home without a catch - but I'll spend the whole morning with only 1. 

[BigBee]

Well this time of the year @ Lib from shoreline is tough.  I usually jump out to other places - BUT starting to get cooler nights which is good!   Gotta get up early to get the first hour of daylight and from my experience topwater can rock!  Smallies LOVE pop-r's in Liberty!  Evening can be good too - and stay an hour or so after dark can be good as well.  As fall gets here and the water cools down jump back to a spring pattern - points and mouths of coves.  Little trickier than spring because the vegetation and weeds are more prevalent so some lures harder to work - but can't go wrong with a carolina rigged anything - even live minnows - LONG casts and slow retrieves.  You're gonna lose some tackle because of rocks down there (rocks=smallies) but you will def. find the smallies from the shoreline.  So it's gonna only get better from here until winter.  I hate summer fishing!   Good luck!