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Approximate Boundary: 39.703576,-79.010521 to 39.712028,-78.999513
The 120-acre, 35-foot-deep Piney Reservoir, owned by the City of Frostburg, is also known as Frostburg Reservoir. The lake was reconstructed in 1990 and is primarily a destination for bass, perch, and tiger muskies. The DNR stocks trout in Spring and 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 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, and the section adjacent to Piney Run Road has become unfishable due to the heavy growth of aquatic vegetation. Marshland also predominates on the portion of the lake to the east of Grantsville Road and 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,-79.003845, 39.707757,-79.002418, 39.710494,-78.998931)
At the dam at the southern end of the lake (39.701783,-79.009155)
Piney Reservoir Trout Fishing 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