Greenbelt Reservoir

Primary fish habitat in the reservoir is rock, sand, aquatic vegetation and flooded terrestrial vegetation. The reservoir can develop extensive stands of aquatic vegetation, especially in the Salt Fork arm. The water is clear and develops good plankton blooms. Visibility is usually four to six feet.

Largemouth bass can be caught on a wide variety of baits depending on season and water conditions. The best season for bass fishing is spring when water temperatures reach about 60 degrees. Common lures include plastic worms, spinner baits and crank baits. Anglers should target areas with some type of structure such as trees, vegetation, drop-offs or ledges. Good catches of crappie frequently are found around flooded timber in the arms of the reservoir in the spring and fall and along the rip-rap of the dam when the fish move to deeper water. Crappie are best caught with jigs or minnows vertically fished around structure. Walleye are most often caught along the dam and around rock or sand points and drop-offs. The key to catching walleye is to use light line (6-pound test or less) and live bait or small jigs or lures. Fish very slow in water 10-20 feet deep. Good baits for white bass are crank baits that imitate shad or live shad or minnows. Schools of white bass can often be found in the large open-water areas of either arm of the reservoir or the main reservoir near the bubbler on the dam.

Largemouth bass can be caught on a wide variety of baits depending on season and water conditions. The best season for bass fishing is spring when water temperatures reach about 60 degrees. Common lures include plastic worms, spinner baits and crank baits. Anglers should target areas with some type of structure such as trees, vegetation, drop-offs or ledges. Good catches of crappie frequently are found around flooded timber in the arms of the reservoir in the spring and fall and along the rip-rap of the dam when the fish move to deeper water. Crappie are best caught with jigs or minnows vertically fished around structure. Walleye are most often caught along the dam and around rock or sand points and drop-offs. The key to catching walleye is to use light line (6-pound test or less) and live bait or small jigs or lures. Fish very slow in water 10-20 feet deep. Good baits for white bass are crank baits that imitate shad or live shad or minnows. Schools of white bass can often be found in the large open-water areas of either arm of the reservoir or the main reservoir near the bubbler on the dam.

Largemouth bass are the most popular species in the reservoir. Crappie are abundant, and the reservoir has a good population of walleye with April through June being the best season for fishing. White bass are frequently caught during summer and fall months as they chase small shad in open water.

Are there places to stay in the Greenbelt Reservoir area?