The locations

Piney Run: Troll nightcrawlers at 18 to 30 feet for jumbo perch, slab bluegills and good-size catfish. The biggest bluegills are schooling up in the deepest parts of the lake. Early morning anglers are hooking 1- to 3-pound largemouth bass on spinnerbaits, surface lures and Sinkos, says Jim Gronaw at the park office. Chad Dawson, 13, caught a 4.2-pound, 20-inch bucketmouth on a double-bladed spinnerbait from the shoreline. There's a session of moonlight fishing today, 6 p.m.-midnight.

Prettyboy Reservoir: The only fishing action is from the shoreline, says Duke Nohe of the Maryland Aquatic Resource Coalition. The reservoir is down 40 feet, making even canoe launching impossible. If you walk out 60 feet, there's decent white perch fishing. Small minnows and nightcrawlers are best bait.

Loch Raven Reservoir: The white perch are schooling in the coves; troll a nightcrawler on a spinner hook. The grass is thick, but early morning bass action remains good, says Kyle Orndorff at the Loch Raven Fishing Center. Use spinnerbaits and plastic lizards along the inside and outside edges of the grass beds. Orndorff caught a two-pound bass from the center's porch casting a Rosco shiner to a tiny clearing. The reservoir is at 78 percent capacity.

Liberty Reservoir: The reservoir is down 24 feet, but it's a "bass fisherman's dream of 60 miles of legal shoreline to park and walk to," says Doug Geis at Old Reisterstown Bait and Tackle. There's good white perch fishing at Snake Point, Eagle Point and Oakland Point. Fish nightcrawlers on the bottom. Anglers are finding some 5-18 pound rockfish mixed in. Along the shore, rockfish of 18-20 pounds are taking large and extra-large shiners.

Susquehanna River: Smallmouth bass and a few largemouths are present. Try small Mr. Twisters, 3- to 4-inch tubes, large shiners, crayfish and crankbaits fished around structure, deep holes and grass beds. Below the Conowingo Dam, some stripers have been reeled in on Storm Shads and Bass Assassins. Fish late in the day for the best results. In the Northeast River, skip tubes under docks to attract smallies.

Gunpowder River: With the city Public Works Department trying to keep Loch Raven Reservoir full downstream, fishing couldn't be better on the river, says Theaux LeGardeur at Backwater Angler in Monkton. Conditions will last only as long as Prettyboy Reservoir has water. Current is strong, so bring a wading staff. Anglers have been catching fish ranging from 10 to 16 inches. Use big streamers and big dries. Olives and tans are best colors.

Middle River: Target the grasses and docks in the Dundee-Gunpowder area, says Matt Garick at The Fishin' Shop on Pulaski Highway. Use topwater lures in the morning and soft plastics later in the day. White perch are hot close to Pooles Island, with bloodworms the best bait.

Patapsco River: There isn't much water, but fishing is OK, says Hank Holland at The Fisherman's Edge in Catonsville. Look for fish concentrated in deeper pools and near feeder streams. If you wet-wade, you'll be able to feel the cooler areas. "Poppers are catching anything in there. They're the most fun," says Holland. "Use anything with rubber legs."

Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge reservoirs: The heat and drought haven't kept anglers from landing big fish, says Hector Padilla, the WSSC officer at Brighton Dam. Largemouth bass weighing more than 5 pounds were caught at both reservoirs. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits will get the job done. Channel cats exceeding 8 pounds are taking worms and crankbaits. Triadelphia is down 15 feet.

Chesapeake Bay: Big spot are at Cook's Point at the mouth of the Choptank, says Capt. Jim Brincefield. Bottom fish with bloodworms, razor clams and peelers. Chummers are finding success at the Gas Docks and around Buoy 72. Look for snapper blues in the chum slick. Doormats have been taking live minnows in the 40- to 50-foot trough directly north of the Three-Legged Marker, says Ken Lamb at The Tackle Box in Lexington Park. Hefty croaker are on the Middle Grounds in late afternoon and evening; squid, bloodworms and peelers produce limits. Trout are in the holes and lumps off Taylor Island. Spot are plentiful in the Patuxent from Broomes Island to the mouth and along the shoreline at Greenwell State Park. Bloodworms best bait.

Ocean City: What's not to like, says Sue Foster of Oyster Bay Tackle. Flounder, croaker, trout and stripers are all "on line" these days. At Indian River Inlet, anglers working the incoming tide were landing croaker up to 2 pounds. It appears the flat fish may finally be making their way to the inlet and the east and west channels. At Oceanic Pier, night fishing is coming on, with catches of sea trout and blues. The U.S. 50 bridge is a good place to catch sea trout on peelers and live-lining spot. Croaker are biting in the Thorofare, south of the Route 90 bridge, around the barges just south of the U.S. 50 bridge. Squid, bloodworms and cut bait are effective. Surf fishing is hit or miss, with some small sharks, snapper blues and croaker keeping anglers' attention.

Potomac River: The tidal river remains impervious to the drought, but salt levels are up, says Ken Penrod of Life Outdoors Unlimited. Stick with the tributaries and upper tidal river for best results. Anglers are catching smallies at the Key and Long bridge foundations, the Kennedy Center drop-off and the cover above the Key. In the upper Potomac, try the deep water adjacent to Catoctin Creek, the middle of the river above the Whites Ferry launch and the deeper water around Harrison's Island.