Clopper Lake

You can find Clopper Lake at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. The entire park’s land area is 6,300 acres which stretches along 14 miles of Seneca Creek and snakes its way towards the historic Potomac River. The Clopper Lake Circuit includes the 90-acre lake enclosed by a wooded area. Some of the recreational activities for visitors are picnic sites, boat rentals, hiking/walking trails and, tire playground for tireless youngsters.

It is a boating and fishing destination

near the Washington DC area. Privately owned boats are permitted to navigate throughout the season. A boat concession on Clopper Lake rents watercraft for fishing and recreation from the months of May until September. Recreational fishers can look forward to catching catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill (copper nose), carnivorous tiger muskellunge, and freshwater crappie.

From Virginia, go southward and take the I-270 route towards Frederick, Maryland. Take Exit 10 which is Clopper Road at Route 117. Turn right at the intersection and head to the far end of the ramp. The park is around two 2 miles on your left.

From points north, take I-270 south towards Washington, D.C.; take Exit 11 (MD Route 124 west). Turn right at the light at the bottom of the ramp. At the second light, turn right onto Clopper Road (Route 117). The park is approximately 1.5 miles on the left.

Clopper Lake is approximately eight feet deep with a number of shallow bays. The Lake has plenty of underwater aquatic vegetation. These are dominated by spiny naiad (species of aquatic plants) that can become very thick in summer and early fall. Tree ruins and beaver huts provide sanctuary for the different species of fish. There is also an abundance of the freshwater game fish (largemouth bass). Likewise, Channel catfish have been stocked into the Lake. Other varieties found in the lake are brown bullhead catfish and common carp.
However, there is a closed season for black bass in Maryland from March 1 until June 15. Catch-and-return angling for largemouth bass is allowed during this period. There are a variety of public facilities for visitors to Clopper Lake. These include parking for automobiles and trucks, picnic area, a dockyard, access for the physically impaired, a boat launch area, shore fishing access, playgrounds, and restrooms.

If you are going on a trip to Seneca, make sure to include Lake Clopper in your itinerary and call Affinity Airport Sedan to pick you up from any airport in D.C.