Centennial Lake Fishing Spot

• County: Howard
• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/07/09 11:07 AM
• Ask about Centennial Lake in our Fishing Forums

This is a managed Trophy Largemouth Bass lake. It is a state and county run facility. Be aware this body of water, has a slot limit on Largemouth bass. Any Largemouth between 11 and 15 inches must be released. This lake is also a put and take Rainbow trout fishery in the spring and fall. This lake receives heavy fishing pressure. Please consult MD. DNR regulations for changes.
Amenities such as bait shop, bathrooms,store, and pavillion rental are available.



Centennial Lake is a 50-acre impoundment on the Centennial Branch of the Little Patuxent River. Centennial Lake is a small suburban impoundment. It is typically clear but can become murky following storm events. Algae blooms are common as a result of increased nutrient loads from storm related run-off and during the fall as aquatic vegetation die back. Centennial Lake contains submerged aquatic vegetation during the warm months of the year that can become a nuisance to shoreline anglers. Centennial Lake has expanding beds of lily pads in many locations around the perimeter of the Lake. The Lake is relatively shallow with a mean depth of 10.2 feet and contains several small shallow coves. Tree downfalls in the Lake from the surrounding forested buffer provide additional habitat. The Lake is completely surrounded by a paved path that provides the angler with access to nearly the entire perimeter. Centennial Lake contains an overabundance of largemouth bass, however; many nice bass (> 12 inches) are available to anglers. Largemouth bass up to 6 1/2 pounds have been collected during population surveys. Rainbow trout have been stocked into Centennial Lake since 1992 as part of the State's put-and-take trout program. The trout fishery is very popular and provides anglers suffering from "cabin fever" the opportunity to get out and catch hatchery raised nine to twenty inch trout for the creel during the spring. Rainbow trout are also stocked in the fall. Tiger muskie fingerlings, a sterile, hybrid cross of northern pike and muskellunge, have been stocked into Centennial Lake each year since 1995 with the exception of 1997 and 2002. Large tiger muskies (> 36 inches) are now swimming in Centennial Lake and provide an explosive fight for anglers who hook into one. Channel catfish have been stocked into Centennial Lake as recently as October of 2001 when 450 two to four pound adults were stocked. Many anglers target channel catfish in Centennial Lake and catch large ones. Most success with catching the channel catfish occurs during the early morning and late evening hours before the park closes. Centennial Lake provides an outstanding sunfish fishery. Quality size bluegill, pumpkinseed and redear sunfish are available to the angler and can be found throughout the lily pads, especially during the fall. Black Crappie round out the list of fish species available to anglers with nice size (9-12 inch) crappies available. Centennial Park is open at 7:00 a.m. to dusk or as posted. The boat ramp is open March through November. All boats are required to have a boating permit. Daily permits may be obtained at the boathouse and cost $5. Seasonal permits are available at the boathouse. Only class A boats are allowed, 16 feet or less in length, with electric motors. Rowboats and canoes are also permitted and can be rented from the boathouse. The west end of the Lake is marked by buoys and is designated a wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is off limits to fishing. There is a closed season on black bass in Maryland from March 1 through June 15. Catch-and-return angling for largemouth bass is permitted during the closure. Centennial Lake is managed under trophy bass regulations, which allow the angler to creel five bass less than 11 inches or four bass less than 11 inches and one bass ³15 inches from June 16 through the end of February. There are no size restrictions on channel catfish, rainbow trout, sunfish or crappie, however; channel catfish and rainbow trout have a daily creel limit of five and sunfish and crappie have a daily creel limit of 15. Tiger muskie must be 36 inches to creel and have a daily limit of one. From I-70, take Route 29 south. From Route 29, take Route 108 west. Main entrance to Centennial Park is one mile on right