Fishing at Rainbow Lake, Frederick County, Maryland

• Overview

  Rainbow Lake sits within Frederick County in Maryland. Land around it is open valley. It is high ground by Maryland standards. Emmitsburg lies 3.4 miles from the water. It is 50 miles to Baltimore, the nearest city. Round about: K Section Pond at about 3.5 miles, Charnita Lake about 4.3 miles, Frank Bentz Memorial Lake at about 5.5 miles, Lake Royer about 5.7 miles and Hunting Creek Lake at about 6.1 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Species logged across Frederick County include bluegill, smallmouth bass, brown trout, redbreast sunfish and largemouth bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Read Rainbow Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 74°F in July and bottom out at 29°F in January. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It holds true on Rainbow Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, K Section Pond at 3.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Rainbow Lake for certain.