Fishing Howard Lake in Timiskaming District, Ontario

• Overview

  Howard Lake lies within the bounds of Timiskaming District, Ontario. What surrounds it is rolling bush. The water covers around 1.24 sq km, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The edge covers about 12 km, enough to hold several distinct areas. It ranks high for size among our Timiskaming District listings. For supplies, Kirkland Lake is 19 km out. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 213 km away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Howard Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Timiskaming District include brook trout, northern pike and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Howard Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 17°C, while January sits near -17°C. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. At Howard Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Langley Lake, 1.7 km out. Nothing here settles the position at Howard Lake for certain.