Howard Lake (Cass County)
Cass County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 11047200
DNR records show 2 stocking entries at Howard Lake (Cass County) since 2016, most recently walleye fingerlings in 2018 (1,400 fish).
- Howard Lake (Cass County) has 2 DNR stocking records across 2 years (2016-2018): walleye (2).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 2,600 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 60 ft; surface area 386 acres, 99 littoral acres, 7.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Cass County, nearest town Akeley; DNR lake number (DOW) 11047200.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Walleye1 | fingerlings | 1,400 | 100.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye1 | fingerlings | 1,200 | 100.0 |
1 fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
DNR fish survey, 2001
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 30.22 | 272 | 0.08 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 4.67 | 42 | 0.10 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 2.67 | 24 | 0.20 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 1.22 | 11 | 0.24 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 0.46 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 6 | 1.34 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 0.56 | 5 | 0.12 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 0.56 | 5 | 0.13 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 12.89 | 116 | 1.84 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard gill nets | 9.33 | 84 | 0.33 |
| Tullibee (cisco) | Standard gill nets | 5.89 | 53 | 0.59 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard gill nets | 4.56 | 41 | 0.16 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 3.56 | 32 | 0.75 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 2.22 | 20 | 0.13 |
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 2.00 | 18 | 0.21 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 1.56 | 14 | 0.34 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Howard Lake is a 365-acre lake with a maximum depth of 60 feet. The lake is located seven miles northeast of Akeley, Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different lake classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Howard Lake is in lake class 25. Waters in this class are typically deep, clear, hardwater lakes with irregular shorelines. Other area lakes in the same lake class include: Blackwater, Long (near Longville), and Inguadona. Approximately 25% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. There is no developed public access on Howard Lake. Howard Lake provides fishing for northern pike, walleye, bluegill, black crappie, and largemouth bass. The lake is managed primarily for northern pike, largemouth bass, and black crappie. The 2001 survey of Howard Lake showed an abundant population of northern pike. The average size northern pike sampled during the survey was about 19 inches, however several fish over 30 inches were captured. Many different year classes of northern pike were found, indicating good natural reproduction in Howard Lake. Few yellow perch were found during the survey, however it is likely that the northern pike are relying upon tullibee (cisco) as an important food source. Walleye were not abundant during the 2001 survey, however those captured were large, ranging from 20 to 29 inches. A limited amount of walleye natural reproduction occurs in this lake. Bluegill were abundant. Most were small, though fish up to 8 inches were found during the 2001 survey. Pumpkinseed sunfish were also found in Howard Lake, and fish up to 7 inches were sampled. Howard Lake had a good population of largemouth bass, and DNR personnel sampled bass from 5 to 15 inches long. Black crappie were present, and fish up to 11 inches were sampled. Other fish that make up the fish community of Howard Lake include bullheads, rock bass and white sucker. Shoreline areas - on the land and into the shallow water - provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife that live in or near Minnesota's lakes. Overdeveloped shorelines can't support the fish, wildlife, and clean water that are associated with natural undeveloped lakes. The combined effects of all lakeshore owners "fixing up" their property can destroy a lake's valuable natural shorelines. Shoreline habitat consists of aquatic plants, woody plants and natural lake bottom soils. Plants in the water and at the water's edge provide habitat, prevent erosion and absorb excess nutrients. Shrubs, trees, and woody debris such as fallen trees or limbs…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02; contours are the DNR bathymetric survey. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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