Fishing at Howells Lake, McLean County, North Dakota

• Overview

  Howells Lake lies within the bounds of McLean County, North Dakota. It sits at 1,903 feet above sea level. The water covers some 29 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Most waters listed here for McLean County are larger. Some 23 miles away sits Washburn, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Garrison (35 miles) and Velva (38 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Howells Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for McLean County cover bluegill, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Howells Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 69°F for July and 8°F for January. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Expect Howells Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Brush Lake is 2.2 miles off. Signs at Howells Lake carry more weight than any list.