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Rainbow Lake

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Maryland, United States

4.6·241 catches

Top fish species at Rainbow Lake

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Rainbow Lake fishing reports

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Largemouth bass

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Green sunfish

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

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General info

Rainbow Lake is a lake located in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. It is most popular for fishing Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Rainbow trout.

Location

39°41′42.7″N 77°23′25.7″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Rainbow Lake?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Rainbow Lake. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Rainbow Lake, MD

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Maryland can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of March 30th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Closed

Bag limit

5

Min size

12"

Measurement

Total Length

Aggregate

5
A person may not catch or attempt to catch game or freshwater fish without first obtaining an angler's license in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-604, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Possession limit = 10 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in aggregate.

Exceptions:

St. Mary's Lake, Maryland Route 5, St. Mary's County:

  • A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
  • A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
  • A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.

Little Seneca Lake, Montgomery County:

  • A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
  • A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
  • A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.

Johnson Pond, Wicomico County:

  • A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
  • A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
  • A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.

Leonard Mill Pond, Wicomico County:

  • A person may possess five bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate) per day;
  • A person may not possess any largemouth bass or smallmouth bass from 11 inches up to but not including 15 inches total length;
  • A person may possess one largemouth bass or smallmouth bass per day, 15 inches and over.

Lake Hashawha in Carroll County: Any fish caught must immediately be returned to the water where taken. You may not keep or possess any fish while fishing in these areas.

Upper John Owings Pond in Carroll County: Any fish caught must immediately be returned to the water where taken. You may not keep or possess any fish while fishing in these areas.

Waterworks Park in Anne Arundel County: Any fish caught must immediately be returned to the water where taken. You may not keep or possess any fish while fishing in these areas.

Potomac River from Dam No. 2 (Seneca Breaks) upstream to the mouth of the Monocacy River: All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas. 

Monocacy River from the Potomac River upstream to Buckeystown Dam: All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas. 

Patapsco River from Interstate 70 downstream to Maryland Route 144 (Frederick Road): All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas. 

North Branch of the Potomac River, from the spillway in Cumberland upstream 25 miles to the U.S. Route 220 Bridge at Keyser, West Virginia: All largemouth bass or smallmouth bass must be immediately released in the water where it was caught. You may not possess largemouth bass or smallmouth bass while within the designated catch-and-return areas. 


Youghiogheny River Lake:

From January 1 through the day before the first Saturday after April 11:

  • minimum size = 15-inches total length;
  • daily catch limit = 4 largemouth bass and/or smallmouth bass in aggregate.

From 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after April 11 through 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after June 11:

  • season is closed (no harvest)

From the first Saturday after June 11 through October 31:

  • minimum size = 12-inches total length;
  • daily catch limit = 6 largemouth bass and/or smallmouth bass in aggregate.

From November 1 through December 31:

  • minimum size = 15-inches total length;
  • daily catch limit = 4 largemouth bass and/or smallmouth bass in aggregate.

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

39°41′42.7″N 77°23′25.7″W
Regulations in the map
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Reviews of Rainbow Lake

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11 ratings

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Cities nearby

Washington

9.7 miles away

Waynesboro

10.9 miles away

Guilford

17.0 miles away

Hagerstown

18.0 miles away

Frederick

18.1 miles away

Antrim

18.7 miles away

Greene

20.2 miles away

Chambersburg

21.5 miles away

Ballenger Creek

21.8 miles away

Westminster

21.9 miles away

Hanover

23.1 miles away

Penn

23.8 miles away

Hamilton

25.0 miles away

Shippensburg

25.4 miles away

Urbana

25.8 miles away

Eldersburg

30.8 miles away

Damascus

30.8 miles away

South Middleton

32.5 miles away

Clarksburg

32.8 miles away

Dover

34.8 miles away

Martinsburg

35.3 miles away

Carlisle

36.2 miles away

Charles Town

38.5 miles away

North Middleton

39.2 miles away

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FAQ about Rainbow Lake fishing

Rainbow Lake is a lake located in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. Its coordinates are:
39°41′42.7″N 77°23′25.7″W
.
Find the best fishing spots on Rainbow Lake by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
The most common species in Rainbow Lake are:
The latest Rainbow Lake fishing reports are:
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