Earl Lake near Howell: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Livingston County, Michigan, is where Earl Lake sits. It sits at 922 feet above sea level. The water covers some 53 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 1.2 miles of margin, front to back. You are 1.8 miles from Howell. Ann Arbor is the closest city, 24 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Earl Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Livingston County include bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie and pink salmon. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. The shape of Earl Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 22°F in January to roughly 70°F in July. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. The season on Earl Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Thompson Lake is 1.2 miles distant. None of that is settled for Earl Lake in what we hold.