Documented northern snakehead water in Prince George's County, Maryland. Middle Potomac-Anacostia-Occoquan drainage. 1 USGS specimen record (2021); status: established. Location verified from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.
How to fish Lake Artemsia
Lake Artemsia is a quiet, non-tidal lake, which actually makes life easier for snakehead anglers β no tide charts to juggle, just water levels that stay steady day to day. Snakehead here relate hard to cover: expect them tucked into pads, matted grass, and any laydown wood along the margins. They ambush from that structure, so your best bet is working the edges tight rather than blind-casting open water.
Since there's no tide to dictate the bite, focus on low-light windows β early morning and last light are prime, especially along wind-blown banks where baitfish get pushed into the cover. Midday in the heat, look for shaded pockets under overhanging brush or thicker grass mats; snakehead will slide into shade rather than sit in open sun.
Access here is mostly a shore and kayak game. Mapped parking sits about 0.38 mi from the water, so plan a short walk with your gear. There's no boat ramp mapped within roughly 3 miles, so this is really a bank or carry-in kayak spot rather than a trailer-launch lake. Bring weedless topwater frogs and buzzbaits to work over the pads, chatterbaits for searching grass edges, and weedless soft plastics for punching thicker mats. Spool up with 40-65 lb braid β you'll need the muscle to horse fish out of cover once hooked.
+ 9 more parking areas are on the map above. For every lot, tap π ΏοΈ All parking in Maps up top.
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Other Maryland waters
Coordinates are approximate, for finding the general area. Snakehead is an invasive species β regulations on catching, keeping, transporting and killing it vary by state and change often. Never move a live snakehead between waters. Always confirm current rules with your state wildlife agency before you fish.
