Position
39°14.5′N 76°51.5′W
Centennial Lake is a 50-acre lake in Howard County's Centennial Park near Columbia, circled by a paved path that puts the whole shoreline within easy reach. DNR manages its fish: it's crowded with largemouth bass, with some quality fish (up to 6.5 pounds in DNR surveys), plus bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie, channel catfish and the occasional tiger muskie. It's also a popular put-and-take trout lake, stocked several times a year.
When to fish
- Fall through spring: DNR's trout stockings make it a busy trout lake.
- Summer: bass and panfish, though weeds thicken along the banks; algae blooms occasionally close the lake for a while, as in 2022.
Where to fish
- Lily pad beds in the shallow coves: DNR says they can be productive.
- The whole shoreline: reachable from the paved path, though summer weeds can get in the way of shore anglers.
Getting there
Centennial Park is in Ellicott City near Columbia. Boats need a Howard County park boating permit (daily permits are self-serve on site), and everyone aboard needs a life jacket. You need a Maryland nontidal fishing license, plus a trout stamp if you fish for trout.
Right now
Current conditions
- Air
- 51°F
- Wind
- 1 mph
- From the S
- Sky
- Clear
Source: National Weather Service
From the water
Latest reports
No reports yet
No fishing reports have been published for Centennial Lake yet.
Field guide
What you can catch
Close by