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Lake Elkhorn

Lake fishing  Maryland · 06:48 - 19:16

Lake Elkhorn is a lake set in Maryland. The main target species are Bluegill, White Bass and Smallmouth Bass.

Good 65% The bite right now
Top bet: Bluegill Active through the day, water near its preferred 22 degrees.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
78%
85°
Thu
75%
91°
Fri
79%
84°
Sat
81%
77°
Sun
84%
73°
Best day
Mon
83%
80°

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.)
72°F
Air temp
75°F
Wind
7 mph
Pressure
30.3 inHg → stable
Clouds
0.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 06:03–08:03 Day 08:03–18:01 Dusk 18:01–20:01

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

Feeding times today

Waxing crescent 14% lit
Major period 15:18–17:18 Major period 03:18–05:18 Minor period 10:42–12:12 Minor period 20:23–21:53

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

17:00
75°
18:00
73°
19:00
70°
20:00
68°
21:00
67°
22:00
66°
23:00
65°
00:00
64°
01:00
63°
02:00
62°
03:00
62°
04:00
61°

Likely catch now (15 species)

Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
65%
Active through the day, water near its preferred 22 degrees.
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White Bass
Morone chrysops
63%
Active through the day, water near its preferred 22 degrees, bright sky slows things.
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Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
53%
Water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
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Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
50%
Water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
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Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
49%
Water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
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Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
36%
Peak season, bright sky slows things.
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About the fishing here

Popular catches here include Bluegill, White Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass and Brook Trout.

For Bluegill, the fishing tends to peak 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.
Lure Float bait for bluegill: Worm under a float.
Colour Clear water and good light: try natural bait, small earth tones for bluegill.
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 Bluegill, White Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Brook Trout, Striped Bass and Rainbow 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 Bluegill, the fishing tends to peak 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 24%.