Bass/Trout – Piney Reservoir (MD – aka Frostburg Reservoir)

Articles on this site are out of date since some go back to 2006. Regulations and property ownership may have changed since publication. It is your responsibility to know and obey all regulations and not trespass on private property.

Approximate Boundary: 39.703576,-79.010521 to 39.712028,-78.999513

Owned by the City of Frostburg, the 120 acre, 35 foot deep Piney Reservoir is also known as Frostburg Reservoir. The lake was reconstructed in 1990 and is primarily a destination for bass, perch and even tiger muskies. The DNR stocks trout in both the Spring and the Fall to provide additional variety. There is no doubt that this is a scenic setting. The northern perimeter backs up onto manicured farm fields and the entire western side of the lake hugs a thickly forested ridge.

From a fishing perspective, the fact that boats are not permitted limits fishing to the shoreline and becomes a huge negative on a lake this large. The only opportunity to fish away from the shore comes in the winter when the ice is thick enough to permit ice fishing. Thankfully, Grantsville Road runs down the entire eastern boundary and provides universal access to the tight, extended shoreline on that side. Unlike some of the other lakes in the State, there is no well-defined path along the bank until you reach the southern end of the reservoir. In all other areas, the bank is forested with faint fisherman’s trails weaving between the trees. Depending on where you stand, the bank may or may not drop off sharply. 

The upper end is shallow with the section adjacent to Piney Run Road becoming unfishable as a result of the heavy growth of aquatic vegetation. Marshland also predominates on the portion of the lake to the east of Grantsville Road as well as the southern tip of the main lake. The water is deeper at the western end of the dam and, according to the DNR, walleye have been caught along that shoreline.

Directions:
East: From I-68, take exit 20 onto MD 546 toward Finzel.  At the top of the exit ramp, continue across Beall School Road.  Follow the side road to turn right onto Piney Run Road at the junction with US 40.  Turn left onto Granstville when Piney Run Road crosses the lake.
West: From I-68, take exit 24.  At the top of the ramp, turn left onto Avilton Lonaconing Road.  Turn right onto US 40.  Follow it for over five miles and turn left onto Piney Run Road. Turn left onto Granstville when Piney Run Road crosses the lake.

Access Point:
Several turnouts along Grantsville Road (39.706008,-79.00384539.707757,-79.00241839.710494,-78.998931)
At the dam at the southern end of the lake (39.701783,-79.009155)

Secrets Revealed? No. This is a very public location that is documented in the Maryland DNR stocking plan.

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Looking south along the eastern shore

North along the eastern shore – not steep bank

Marsh on the eastern side of Grantsville Road

View north from the dam

Southeastern corner

Section of the lake above Piney Run Road

Unless stated otherwise, this article was authored by Steve Moore

Disclaimer and Warning:  The contents of this site reflect the opinion of the author and you, the reader, must exercise care in the use and interpretation of this information.  Fishing is a dangerous sport.  You can slip and fall on rocks and sustain severe injury.  You can drown.  You can get hooks caught in your skin, face, eyes or other sensitive places.  All sorts of bad things can happen to you when to go into the woods to visit the places documented here.  Forests, streams and lakes are wild areas and any number of bad things can happen.  You must make your own judgment in terms of acceptable behavior and risk and not rely on anything posted here.  I disclaim all liability and responsibility for any actions you take as a result of reading the articles on this site.  If you do not agree with this, you should not read anything posted on this site.

Disclaimer and Warning:  The contents of this site reflect the opinion of the author and you, the reader, must exercise care in the use and interpretation of this information.  Fishing is a dangerous sport.  You can slip and fall on rocks and sustain severe injury.  You can drown.  You can get hooks caught in your skin, face, eyes or other sensitive places.  All sorts of bad things can happen to you when to go into the woods to visit the places documented here.  Forests, streams and lakes are wild areas and any number of bad things can happen.  You must make your own judgment in terms of acceptable behavior and risk and not rely on anything posted here.  I disclaim all liability and responsibility for any actions you take as a result of reading the articles on this site.  If you do not agree with this, you should not read anything posted on this site.

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