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Sterling

Algonkian Park is open daily and fishing closes at sunset. Fishing licenses are required. Overnight boating, swimming and wading are prohibited.

There is a boat launch and you'll find largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie and carp in the waters.

Please visit the website at Algonkian Park

Washington

Anacostia Park offers miles of river shore and fishing is allowed and regulated by Washington, DC government. Call 202.472.388 for more information.

Please visit the website at Anacostia Park

Bladensburg

Bladensburg Waterfront Park offers a fishing pier for anglers. They also have canoe, kayak and rowboat rentals available from late May to the end of October. For more information call 301.779.0371.

Our Kids Review.

Please visit the website at Bladensburg Waterfront Park

Burke

Burke Lake is a 218-acre lake with fishing opportunities, to include boat and rowboat rentals. Call 703.323.6600 for more information.

Please visit the website at Burke Lake Park

Eagle Harbor

Cedar Haven Fishing Area offers fishing opportunities along the shoreline. A Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license is required and surf rods are recommended.

Please visit the website at Cedar Haven Fishing Area

Ellicott City

Centennial Park is a 337-acre park featuring a 54-acre, man made lake stocked with bass, trout, sunfish and tiger muskies. You can fish from the shore or by boat and a license is needed for ages 16 and up.

Please visit the website at Centennial Park

Boyds

"The pond provides access for fishing and a model boat launch. Maryland State Fishing Regulations apply. Swimming and full-scale boating are prohibited."

Please visit the website at Central Park Pond

Sterling

Claude Moore Park has two fishing ponds that are stocked with large-mouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult. Virginia fishing licenses are required for people 16 and older. Fishing licenses are available online. Call 571.258.3700 for more information.

Please visit the website at Claude Moore Park

Alexandria

Cook Lake is a 4-acre lake located in Cameron Regional Park. The lake is stocked during both the winter months (trout) and warmer months (catfish). You need to purchase a license in order to fish here.

Please visit the website at Cook Lake

Chantilly

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park offers fishing at Walney Pond. Largemouth bass, channel catfish, and sunfish are restocked.

Every so often they offer a program for families to learn about fishing and the native fish and their habitats.

Please visit the website at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

Anne Arundel

Check here if looking for spots to fish in the many regional and community parks of Anne Arundel County. Note that some county facilities require an entrance fee and/or may have special catch and release areas. Uphold part of the Fisherman'­s Code by passing on knowledge and skills and take a kid fishing!

Please visit the website at Fishing in Anne Arundel County Parks

DC-Maryland-Virginia

Following are links for how to obtain a fishing license:

• Washington, DC
• Maryland
• Virginia

Washington

In addition to kayak/canoe and boat rentals, Fletcher's Boat House also offers fishing along the C&O canal. They have DC fishing licenses available for purchase.

They are open seasonally from March to October, weather permitting. Call 202.244.0461 for more information.

Please visit the website at Fletcher's Boat House

Purcellville

Franklin Park has a catch and release pond, which is a summer favorite. Call 540.338.7603 for details, but they do offer a Friday fishing class.

The park is open dawn to dusk seven days a week.

Please visit the website at Franklin Park

Bluemont

Great Country Farms has a fishing hole stocked with blue gills, bass, catfish and some carp that are 15 years old! They offer catch and release fishing, bring your own pole, line & bait.

Call 540.554.2073 for more information.

Please visit the website at Great Country Farms

Online resource

Tips from the Maryland Kids Fishing Center offer advice from what to pack to catching and releasing. Learn the secret to a successful first-time fishing trip.

Please visit the website at Kids Fishing in Maryland

Online resource

Tips from the Virginia Kids Fishing Center offer advice from what to pack to catching and releasing. Learn the secret to a successful first-time fishing trip.

Please visit the website at Kids Fishing in Virginia

Online resource

Tips from the District of Columbia Kids Fishing Center offer advice from what to pack to catching and releasing. Learn the secret to a successful first-time fishing trip.

Please visit the website at Kids Fishing in Washington, DC

Berwyn Heights

Lake Artemesia offers a fishing pier at their 38-acre lake. A non-tidal fishing license is required for persons 16 & older. In addition, a trout stamp is required to catch-and-take trout from the lake.

Please visit the website at Lake Artemesia

Fairfax

The Fairfax County Park Authority operates an annual spring trout fishing program where they stock various lakefront parks with trout from February to April.

Find an updated listing of pass fees online, along with a list of rules and regulations.

FYI, participants 16 years and older must carry a valid Virginia fishing license.

Please visit the website at Lake Fairfax Park

Rockville

Lake Needwood, situated in Rock Creek Park is a beautiful 75-acre area where you can rent rowboats, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats or tour the lake aboard the Needwood Queen during the summer season.

Fishing is allowed at Lake Needwood and Lake Frank (just 10 minutes away). The boat house is where you can rent boats and get permits. Fishing equipment is also for sale. Call 301.762.9500 (boat house) or 301.948.0501 (seasonal permits).

"Largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, and trout are only a few of the fish species found in Lake Needwood and Lake Frank. Trout are stocked each spring, and a trout stamp is required to fish. Trout are limited to 5 per day."

Please visit the website at Lake Needwood

Boyds

Little Seneca Lake is part of Black Hill Regional Park and offers something for anglers of all ages. You can rent a kayak, canoe or rowboat at the boathouse.

Fishing is allowed on Little Seneca Lake, and fishing licenses (required for people age 16 and up) can be purchased at Black Hill Visitor Center. Largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, and Tiger Musky are the most common fish found in the lake.

Please visit the website at Little Seneca Lake

Triangle

The Locust Shade Park lake is stocked with trout, bass, catfish and other fish from November through April.

You can rent a boat or fish from the shoreline. Call 703.221.8579 for more information.

Please visit the website at Locust Shade Park

Silver Spring

The Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park is a 95-acre park that has a small lake where you can fish. You must follow the State of Maryland Fishing License requirements.

Please visit the website at Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park

Lorton

Mason Neck State Park offers both fresh and brackish water fishing. Licenses must be purchased in order to fish. "Cartop boat launch facilities available; no facilities for trailer launching. From April through October, rent a kayak or canoe for an hour or all day to explore Belmont Bay or Kane's Creek - a great way to see eagles."

Please visit the website at Mason Neck State Park

Fairfax & Prince William Counties

The Occoquan Reservoir is a 2,100-acre Water Authority impoundment. There are three marinas that offer boat rentals, bait, tackle and boat launching facilities.

You'll find largemouth bass, bluegill, black and white crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, northern pike, and white perch.

Please visit the website at Occoquan Reservoir

Ellicott City

Extending 32 miles along the Patapsco River, the Patapsco Valley State Park offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Choose from hiking, camping, horseback riding or picnicking, fishing or something else that suits your fancy. During your visit take in the Thomas Viaduct, hike the Grist Mill trail or play on a two-acre tire playground in the Hilton area.

Please visit the website at Patapsco Valley State Park

Laurel

Visitors may fish within the North Tract where you will find bluegill, smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish, black crappie, pickerel, trout, shad, chub, carp, suckers, striped bass, and yellow perch. North Tract open all year; Cash Lake June through October.

Please visit the website at Patuxent Research Refuge Fishing

Lorton

"Largemouth bass and catfish can be caught all year round in Pohick Bay on the Potomac River. Perch fishing peaks in the spring. Striped bass also can be found in early spring but peak in the fall."

Boating is also available. Call 703-339-6104 for more information.

Please visit the website at Pohick Bay Regional Park

Upper Marlboro

The Queen Anne Fishing Area is open daily from 8am to dusk. Fishing is permitted along the banks. The river is tidal, so a Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license is required for anglers age 16 and older.

Please visit the website at Queen Anne Fishing Area

Great Falls

Riverbend Park offers anglers of all ages an opportunity to fish. The area is a natural habitat for smallmouth bass, sunfish and catfish.

Riverbend Park encourages catch and release fishing. Ages 16 and older are required to have either a Virginia or Maryland freshwater fishing license.

Riverbend Park offers fishing rod and reel rentals plus boat and kayak rentals. They also have a special Fishing Guide program to help learn the basics of fishing while observing wildlife. The program runs from May to September (Thurs to Mon) and is for ages 5 and up with an adult. RR and advanced payment of $85 is required.

Please visit the website at RIverbend Park

Annapolis

Sandy Point State Park is fondly remembered by the OK staff as a fun getaway to cool off on a hot summer day. Sandy Point offers a variety of activities from swimming and boating to fishing and crabbing. The beaches are near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and offer beautiful views of the bay itself and the bridge. Read the Our Kids Review.

Please visit the website at Sandy Point State Park

Gaithersburg

Seneca Creek State Park has a hand launch site available to access the lake. Fish include: largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, tiger muskie and crappie. Seneca Creek is stocked with put-and-take trout. Boat rentals are available seasonally. Call 301.924.2127 for more information.

Please visit the website at Seneca Creek State Park

Online resource

Research programs for fishing and boating by state. Search on events for kids in your state.

Please visit the website at Take Me Fishing

Online resource

Simple tips to keep in mind when introducing young children to fishing and and the rewarding experience it can offer.

Please visit the website at Taking Kids Fishing Tips

Anne Arundel

From Memorial to Labor Day, Anne Arundel County Department of Health conducts water quality sampling at community bathing beaches along area creeks and rivers.

Please visit the website at Water Quality & Swimming or Fishing in AA County