Howard Fairchild Lake near Mexico: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Missouri, Howard Fairchild Lake falls inside Audrain County. What surrounds it is open valley. It covers about 19 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Nearest place of any size is Mexico, 4.9 miles away. Wellsville lies 14 miles off, Centralia another 19 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Howard Fairchild Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Survey and observation records for Audrain County include johnny darter, green sunfish, black bullhead and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Howard Fairchild Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 77°F at the top of summer and 26°F at the bottom of winter. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. It holds true on Howard Fairchild Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Number 101 Lake at 2.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Howard Fairchild Lake carry more weight than any list.