THE BASS COLLEGE

Made my first trip to Stemmers Run yesterday morning without much success.  For the most part I was fishing plastic worms but couldn't seem to locate the bass.  I caught one channel catfish about 18" length that took a spinnerbait.  I've read that some fish structures have been placed out in the middle of the resevoir--anybody have any knowledge as to their location?  Much of the resevoir along the shorelines, where there are a lot of laydowns and other cover, is on the order of 12 to 18 inches deep and didn't seem to hold any bass yesterday.

Andrew

Cecil County

Owner

Department of the Army

Corps of Engineers

History - Stemmers Run Reservoir (also known as Pearce Creek) is a 90 acre impoundment located in Cecil County. The lake is part of the C&D Canal Lands, the use of which have been granted to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources by the Department of the Army since 1968 and continuing up to 2018.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Fisheries Service, Freshwater Fisheries Division, manages the lake to provide a public angling resource.  Fiscal resources for this work and maintenance of the grounds comes from fishing license sales and the Federal Aid and Restoration Fund (Dingell-Johnson Act).

Physical/ Habitat Description - The lake can be characterized as broad, shallow and turbid.  The maximum depth is only 6 ft. and almost half of the shoreline is covered in phragmites, an exotic invasive species of reed that is often found in wetlands.  Several fish structures have been placed over the past five years throughout the middle section of the reservoir.

Fish Species - Stemmers Run Reservoir is a standard bass/bluegill lake and is managed as such.  Good numbers and sizes of bass and bluegills are present.  Bass have abundant forage from which to feed and can be finicky as a result.  Channel catfish have been stocked to help utilize the abundant forage.  Anglers may occasionally catch other species including: pumpkinseed sunfish, black crappie, white crappie, green sunfish, common carp, American eel, brown bullhead catfish, golden shiner, gizzard shad and spottail shiner.

Restrictions - A permit is required to fish the reservoir.  Information regarding this permit can be obtained by contacting the Gwynnbrook Wildlife and Heritage Service Office at 410-356-9272.

To obtain a non-hunting/fishing permit you can either visit the Gwynnbrook Office or mail a photocopy of your driver s license, vehicle tag number, day-time phone number, and self addressed stamped envelope to 3740 Gwynnbrook Ave. Owings Mills, MD 21117.

Note: Fishing is prohibited in all areas during waterfowl and firearm deer hunting seasons. Fishing is allowed on Sundays only during those time periods annually. Camping and swimming are prohibited.

Directions

    From Baltimore - Take I-695 east to I-95 north, take Rt.272 south towards North East, make left onto Rt. 40 east. Take right onto Rt. 213 south to Cecilton. Take a right onto Rt. 282 (Crystal Beach Rd.), veer left onto Grove Neck Rd, veer right onto Pond Neck Rd. Make right onto gravel road before pave road to Elk River boat ramp. Follow gravel road which parallels the Elk River and make right at water diversion and follow road back to primitive boat ramp.

    From Annapolis - Take US Rt. 50 east over Bay Bridge, take US Rt. 301 north, make left onto Rt. 313( Galena Rd). Take Rt. 213 north to Cecilton, make left at light onto Rt. 282 (Crystal Beach Rd), veer left onto Grove Neck Rd, veer right onto Pond Neck Rd. Make right onto gravel road before paved road to Elk River boat ramp. Follow gravel road which parallels the Elk River and make right at water diversion and follow road back to primitive boat ramp.

    From Easton - Take US Rt. 50 West, make right onto Rt. 213 towards Centreville, make right onto US Rt.301 north, make left onto Rt. 313( Galena Rd). Take Rt. 213 north to Cecilton, make left at light onto Rt. 282 (Crystal Beach Rd), veer left onto Grove Neck Rd, veer right onto Pond Neck Rd. Make right onto gravel road before pave road to Elk River boat ramp. Follow gravel road which parallels the Elk River and make right at water diversion and follow road back to primitive boat ramp.

Contact Us - Any questions, comments or suggestions about Stemmers Run Reservoir can be directed to:

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Fisheries Service

Unicorn Lake Fish Hatchery

110 Fishing Lake Lane

Millington, MD 21651

Phone: 410-928-3643

E-mail: RSchaefer@dnr.state.md.us

You need to throw a big Blk/blue Jig with a Sweet Beaver trailer and a Big Colorado Spinnerbait and a Chatterbait there. All the trophy class bass we have been catching in the last 2 months have come from water that was 6 to 18 inches deep.