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Lake Elkhorn

Lake fishing  Maryland · 06:07 - 20:19

Lake Elkhorn is a lake in Maryland. Anglers here fish mainly for Bluegill, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass.

Good 62% The bite right now
Top bet: Bluegill Active through the day, water near its preferred 26 degrees.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
77%
83°
Best day
Mon
77%
88°
Tue
71%
84°
Wed
71%
83°
Thu
74%
87°
Fri
72%
88°

The bite over the next days, scored at dusk. Based on the weather forecast, so it is guidance, not guarantees.

Conditions right now

Weather
Partly cloudy
Water temp (est.)
80°F
Air temp
83°F
Wind
7 mph
Pressure
29.93 inHg ↓ falling
Clouds
100.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 05:22–07:22 Day 07:22–19:04 Dusk 19:04–21:04

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Feeding times today

Waning gibbous 91% lit
Major period 02:22–04:22 Major period 14:22–16:22 Minor period 20:51–22:21 Minor period 08:22–09:52

Solunar times are a traditional guide based on the moon's position, separate from the live ranking above. Local time at the spot.

Next hours

11:00
83°
12:00
86°
13:00
87°
14:00
87°
15:00
88°
16:00
90°
17:00
89°
18:00
87°
19:00
84°
20:00
82°
21:00
81°
22:00
80°

Likely catch now (15 species)

Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
62%
Active through the day, water near its preferred 26 degrees.
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Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
45%
Water near its preferred 26 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.
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Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
44%
Water near its preferred 26 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.
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Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
40%
Overcast lifts the bite.
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Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
33%
Slow during the day, water near its preferred 26 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
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Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
32%
Slow during the day, water near its preferred 26 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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About the fishing here

Popular catches here include Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Channel Catfish and Blue Catfish.

Bluegill fishing is usually best around May-Jul. The best windows are usually dawn, day and dusk.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Guides for this water

Tips right now

Technique Start with a float bait for bluegill, the most likely catch right now.
Timing This is a prime window for bluegill at the day. Fish hard now.
Colour Low light: try red, yellow and bright tags for bluegill.
Lure Float bait for bluegill: Worm under a float.
Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

About this water

Lake Elkhorn is a 37-acre (150,000 m2) reservoir located in the Owen Brown area of Columbia, Maryland. It is Columbia's third and largest lake. Its main features are a small dam and a park with a picnic pavilion and a two-mile (3 km) walking path around the lake. The path was built in 1982 and is surrounded by a park and townhouses. The lake, which was built in 1974, is named for the Elkhorn branch of the Little Patuxent River. In 1969, Spiro Agnew proclaimed the arrival of the first Columbia based scientific firm, Hittman Associates that relocated for favorable lease rates from Howard Research and Development. Hittman in turn was contracted by the EPA using Wilde Lake as an example to recommend reuse of storm water runoff from all of Columbia's reservoir systems for residential drinking water to save on development costs. The lake is overseen by the Columbia Association.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Lake Elkhorn?

Popular catches here include Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Common Carp and White Bass.

Do you need a fishing license at Lake Elkhorn?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Lake Elkhorn?

Bluegill fishing is usually best around May-Jul. The best windows are usually dawn, day and dusk.

What is biting at Lake Elkhorn right now?

Right now Bluegill is the most likely catch, at about 34%.