Fishing Howell Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Howell Lake falls in Forest County, part of Wisconsin. Height above sea level is 1,673 feet. It runs to roughly 171 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The full circuit measures close to 2.0 miles on foot. It ranks high for size among our Forest County listings. The nearest place of any size is Eagle River, 15 miles away. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 108 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Howell Lake

  Recorded soundings reach about 15 feet at the deepest point. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Forest County list brown trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Howell Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in July and bottoms out near 10°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Howell Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Quartz Lake is 1.2 miles off. Check the position on Howell Lake before loading the car.