Howard Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Chelan County, Washington, you have Howard Lake. The ground round it is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. Head to Darrington, 36 miles away, for anything you forgot. Granite Falls is 45 miles away, with Manson at 47 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off. Trees shelter part of the bank when the wind gets up.

• Where to Fish on Howard Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Chelan County: cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon and largemouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Howard Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 60°F on average, January about 23°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan any trip to Howard Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Waddell Lake, 3.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at Howard Lake for certain.