2026 regulation year
Maryland Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Sander vitreus
Last updated
Walleye are Maryland's premier cool-water gamefish, and Deep Creek Lake (Garrett County's 3,900-acre mountain reservoir at 2,462 ft) is the undisputed flagship — managed with a 15-inch minimum PLUS an 18-to-21-inch protected slot (every fish from 18 to 21 inches must be released) to grow trophy-class fish, and CLOSED to walleye fishing March 1 – April 15 each year to protect the spring spawn. The lower Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam runs one of the East Coast's best spring walleye migration runs (March – May), and the Potomac River mainstem from Chain Bridge upstream to the spillway in Cumberland carries a 20-inch MAXIMUM size from January 1 – April 15 (all walleye over 20 inches must be released during the pre-spawn period). The MD/PA Youghiogheny Reservoir, the MD/WV Jennings Randolph Lake (which produced the state-record walleye — 14 lb 4 oz in 1998), and the Baltimore water-supply Liberty Reservoir (stocked) round out the walleye tier. Everywhere else the statewide rule is a clean 15-inch minimum + 5 fish per day, open year-round. The MD non-tidal freshwater licence covers inland walleye; the Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence covers the tidal Susquehanna + tidal Potomac.
Get change alerts
Watch Maryland Walleye and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.
Season
Open year-round statewide (15 in min, 5 / day); Deep Creek Lake + Youghiogheny River below the Route 42 bridge CLOSED Mar 1 – Apr 15 (spring spawn); Potomac mainstem (Chain Bridge to Cumberland) 20 in MAX size Jan 1 – Apr 15.
– Statewide (nontidal + Chesapeake tidal)
15 in min, 5 / day; open year-round
– Deep Creek Lake
Open Apr 16 – Feb 28; CLOSED to walleye Mar 1 – Apr 15 (spring spawn); 15 in min + 18–21 in protected slot (release all 18–21 in), 5 / day
– Youghiogheny River downstream of the Route 42 bridge
CLOSED to walleye Mar 1 – Apr 15 (spring spawn); 15 in min, 5 / day otherwise
– Potomac River mainstem (Chain Bridge to Cumberland spillway)
20 in MAXIMUM size Jan 1 – Apr 15 — release all walleye over 20 in (pre-spawn protection); standard 15 in min + 5 / day the rest of the year
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day statewide (nontidal + Chesapeake tidal)
- Possession
- 5 (daily creel applies — MD publishes no separate multi-day possession limit for walleye)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 15 in min statewide; Deep Creek Lake adds an 18–21 in protected slot (release all 18–21 in); Potomac mainstem (Chain Bridge to Cumberland) 20 in MAXIMUM size Jan 1 – Apr 15
- Slot
- Deep Creek Lake 18–21 in protected slot (release all fish 18 to 21 in); Potomac mainstem 20 in maximum size Jan 1 – Apr 15
- Trophy rule
- Maryland state-record walleye 14 lb 4 oz — Jennings Randolph Reservoir (Garrett County), 1998, John McCarley; Deep Creek Lake's 18–21 in protected slot is designed to grow trophy-class walleye
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited
- MD non-tidal freshwater licence required on inland waters; Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence (+ free DNR Tidal Registration) on tidal Susquehanna + tidal Potomac
- Deep Creek Lake: every walleye 18 to 21 in must be released (protected slot)
- Deep Creek Lake + Youghiogheny River below the Route 42 bridge CLOSED to walleye March 1 – April 15 (spring spawn)
- Potomac River mainstem Chain Bridge to Cumberland: 20 in maximum size January 1 – April 15 (release all walleye over 20 in)
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Maryland waters:
Deep Creek Lake
15 in min + 18–21 in protected slot (release all 18–21 in), 5 / day; CLOSED Mar 1 – Apr 15 (spring spawn); MD's flagship walleye fishery
Youghiogheny River — downstream of the Route 42 bridge
15 in min, 5 / day; CLOSED to walleye Mar 1 – Apr 15 (spring spawn)
Youghiogheny Reservoir / Yough Lake
15 in min, 5 / day; MD/PA joint-management; reservoir open year-round (not subject to the river spawn closure)
Potomac River — mainstem (Chain Bridge to Cumberland)
15 in min + 5 / day; 20 in MAXIMUM size Jan 1 – Apr 15 (release all walleye over 20 in during the pre-spawn period)
Conowingo Dam tailwater
15 in min, 5 / day; East Coast premier spring walleye migration run March – May
Jennings Randolph Lake
15 in min, 5 / day; MD state-record walleye water — 14 lb 4 oz (1998)
Liberty Reservoir (Baltimore / Carroll Counties)
15 in min, 5 / day; stocked walleye; shore + registered electric-motor access only
Official source
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal) publishes the authoritative 2026 Marylandfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The walleye rules on this page are sourced from Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal)'s official walleye regulation page.
Visit official Maryland fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Walleye closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Maryland Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Maryland trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is walleye season in Maryland?
- Open year-round statewide (15 in min, 5 / day); Deep Creek Lake + Youghiogheny River below the Route 42 bridge CLOSED Mar 1 – Apr 15 (spring spawn); Potomac mainstem (Chain Bridge to Cumberland) 20 in MAX size Jan 1 – Apr 15. Those are the 2026 Maryland dates; always confirm against Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — Fisheries Service (Inland + Tidal) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
- What is the Maryland bag limit for walleye?
- The Maryland daily bag limit for walleye is 5 / day statewide (nontidal + Chesapeake tidal). The possession limit is 5 (daily creel applies — MD publishes no separate multi-day possession limit for walleye). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size walleye can you keep in Maryland?
- The Maryland size rule for walleye is 15 in min statewide; Deep Creek Lake adds an 18–21 in protected slot (release all 18–21 in); Potomac mainstem (Chain Bridge to Cumberland) 20 in MAXIMUM size Jan 1 – Apr 15. Slot limit: Deep Creek Lake 18–21 in protected slot (release all fish 18 to 21 in); Potomac mainstem 20 in maximum size Jan 1 – Apr 15. Trophy rule: Maryland state-record walleye 14 lb 4 oz — Jennings Randolph Reservoir (Garrett County), 1998, John McCarley; Deep Creek Lake's 18–21 in protected slot is designed to grow trophy-class walleye.
- Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Maryland?
- Yes. Maryland requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Maryland license — compare resident and non-resident Maryland fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for walleye in Maryland?
- Yes. In Maryland, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited; MD non-tidal freshwater licence required on inland waters; Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Fishing Licence (+ free DNR Tidal Registration) on tidal Susquehanna + tidal Potomac; Deep Creek Lake: every walleye 18 to 21 in must be released (protected slot); Deep Creek Lake + Youghiogheny River below the Route 42 bridge CLOSED to walleye March 1 – April 15 (spring spawn); Potomac River mainstem Chain Bridge to Cumberland: 20 in maximum size January 1 – April 15 (release all walleye over 20 in).
- Do specific Maryland waters have different walleye rules?
- Yes. 7 named Maryland waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Deep Creek Lake, Youghiogheny River, Yough Lake, and 4 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.