Fishing Howard Lake in Barry County, Michigan

• Overview

  Howard Lake stands in Barry County, Michigan. The water sits 853 feet up. About 15 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Stony Point, is 6.3 miles away. The nearest city of size is Grand Rapids, 35 miles away. Round about: Brewster Lake roughly 1.1 miles, Whitefish Lake at 1.3 miles, Aurohn Lake roughly 1.6 miles, Pierce Lake at 1.6 miles and Little Pine Lake roughly 1.8 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Howard Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Howard Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 22°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Look for the thaw near late March; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up sits around late March on average, with the water closing again about mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Howard Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Pierce Cedar Creek Institute covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Brewster Lake, 1.1 miles out. Treat Howard Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.