Howard Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Anoka County in Minnesota is where Howard Lake sits. The ground round it is pine and birch. The water covers around 464 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The edge covers about 4.0 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. It is among the larger waters listed here for Anoka County. Columbus is the closest place, 0.5 miles off. Saint Paul is the closest city, 22 miles away. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Howard Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Anoka County names bluegill, common carp and black crappie. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Howard Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by January the average is down near 11°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Howard Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Columbus Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. For Howard Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.