APRIL
Rainbow Trout
Patapsco River, Md.
Located in Carroll, Howard and Baltimore counties, the Patapsco River flows from Woodbine in the west to Elkridge in the east, through the Patapsco Valley State Park. The river is managed as a put-and-take trout fishery (five trout per day) through the nearly 10 miles of the Patapsco Valley State Park.

The upper trout fishery is in the South Branch of the Patapsco.

Stocking begins at Main Street in Sykesville (Carroll County) or West Friendship Road (Howard County) and extends downstream some 6.45 miles to the confluence with the North Branch.

The lower section of put-and-take trout water, located northwest of U.S. Route 1 in Elkridge within the Avalon Area of the SP, is stocked from Bloede Dam downstream 3.52 miles to the B&O viaduct.

Another popular trout fishing area on the Patapsco River is a 3.6-mile stretch from Daniels Dam (very popular with fly-casters), downstream to Union Dam in the Hollofield Area of the park. This section has a two-trout daily creel limit.

MAY
Rainbow Trout
Big Flatbrook River, N.J.<
One of the most pristine trout streams in the state, the Big Flatbrook is located in the northwestern corner of New Jersey. It is a freestone trout stream from its headwaters at Sawmill Pond in High Point State Park, to its confluence with the Delaware River at Wallpack Bend in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Its remote nature makes it a good stream for anglers who like to hoof into remote areas off the beaten path. In addition to state stockings, a couple of fishing clubs own property along the river's banks, and they also stock trout in its waters.

The Big Flatbrook is considered one of the state's finest fly-fishing waters. The steam traverses terrain that shields its waters from the sun for most of the day. This helps keep its water cool throughout the summer, resulting in good fly hatches in the afternoons and early evenings, which are prime times for flyfishermen.

Early-season fishing is usually a mix of streamer and nymph fishing, while the summer months will give flyfishermen some decent action on dry flies. Anglers who don't partake in the long-rod sport can find some excellent fishing on small spinners, salmon eggs and grubs.

Some of the key spots on the river include the stretch that flows from High Point State Park to the SR 206 Bridge, which contains many shallow stretches and small pools that will give you the best action on garden hackle and small spinners.

Other good areas include:
• The four-mile Fly-fishing Only stretch between the SR 206 Bridge and the Roy Bridge
• The Blewett Track, which is a half-mile section north of the Roy Bridge
• The Junction Pool, located at the confluence of the Big and Little Flatbrook rivers, and
• The section between the Roy Bridge and the brook's confluence with the Delaware River off Mine Road in the Water Gap National Recreational Area.

JUNE
Largemouth Bass
Lake Assunpink, N.J.
Lake Assunpink has consistently produced some of the best bass fishing in the Garden State. That's not surprising, because the lake has ample forages of shiners, gizzard shad and alewives. Its 225 surface acres annually produces largemouths in the 6- to 7-pound range.

Assunpink Lake has a well-defined streambed, and this is the top place to fish deep-running crankbaits and slow-moving spinnerbaits.