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Lake Elkhorn

Lake fishing  Maryland · 06:38 - 17:03

Lake Elkhorn is a lake set in Maryland. The main target species are Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout and Walleye.

Prime 80% The bite right now
Top bet: Striped Bass Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 13 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
81%
73°
Best day
Fri
77%
71°
Sat
76%
58°
Sun
76%
57°
Mon
79%
58°
Tue
77%
64°

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

Conditions right now

Weather
Clear sky
Water temp (est.)
55°F
Air temp
53°F
Wind
6 mph
Pressure
30.16 inHg ↓ falling
Clouds
1.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 05:53–07:53 Dusk 15:48–17:48

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

Feeding times today

Waning crescent 30% lit
Major period 07:16–09:16 Major period 19:16–21:16 Minor period 01:13–02:43 Minor period 13:49–15:19

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

06:00
53°
07:00
53°
08:00
57°
09:00
61°
10:00
65°
11:00
68°
12:00
71°
13:00
72°
14:00
73°
15:00
73°
16:00
71°
17:00
66°

Likely catch now (15 species)

Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
80%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 13 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
61%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 13 degrees, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
Walleye
Sander vitreus
60%
Water near its preferred 13 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
58%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 13 degrees, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
37%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 13 degrees, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
36%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗

About the fishing here

Popular catches here include Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Muskellunge, Brown Trout and Smallmouth Bass.

For Striped Bass, the fishing tends to peak around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. The best windows are usually dawn 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 crankbait for striped bass, the most likely catch right now.
Timing This is a prime window for striped bass at dawn. Fish hard now.
Colour Low light: try chartreuse, yellow and glow for striped bass.
Lure Crankbait for striped bass: Big swimbaits and plugs.
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?

Anglers here regularly land Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Muskellunge, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie and Brook Trout.

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?

For Striped Bass, the fishing tends to peak around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

What is biting at Lake Elkhorn right now?

Right now Striped Bass is the most likely catch, at about 43%.