Lake Howard: depth, boat ramps and water quality
Boat: 2 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Lake Howard (West) Public Boat Ramp, 1 lane, concrete.
The lake
Lake Howard covers 631 acres in Florida, across Polk County. It is a lake: 98.4% of it is 15 feet deep or less; the deepest point measured is at least 16 feet (4.9 m). Our records hold 17 species for this water.
Depth and bottom
Deepest measured point: at least 16 ft (4.9 m). That is the deepest contour line: the bottom goes deeper. 98.4% of the water is 15 feet or shallower. We hold 24 depth contour lines for this water.
- 1–3 ft: 2% of the water
- 3–5 ft: 6.4% of the water
- 5–7 ft: 9.1% of the water
- 7–8 ft: 6.1% of the water
- 8–9 ft: 9% of the water
- 9–10 ft: 7.6% of the water
- 10–11 ft: 9.1% of the water
- 11–12 ft: 10.9% of the water
- 12–13 ft: 17.7% of the water
- 13–14 ft: 10.4% of the water
- 14–15 ft: 10.1% of the water
- 15–16 ft: 1.7% of the water
Water and conditions
Water clarity runs 1.8–3 feet on our readings, averaging 2.2 feet, from 40 readings. Our water temperature readings average 77°F; they do not cover the whole year, so this is not a yearly average. The coldest single reading we hold is 54°F and the warmest is 88°F; the warmest monthly average is 87°F. pH averages 8. These readings span 2016–2025.
2 ramps and launches on this water
On this water we hold 2 trailer ramps and 2 fishing piers.
- Lake Howard (West) Public Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 3 trailers (soft unpaved), no fee, open around the clock, dock. Winter Haven, Lake Region Lakes Management District. Avenue B NW & Lake Howard Drive, Winter Haven 33880 · website lakesmgmtdist.com
- Lake Howard (East) Public Boat Ramp (No Trailer Parking) — 1 lane, concrete, no fee, open around the clock, dock. Winter Haven, City of Winter Haven. Lake Howard Drive & Central Avenue, Winter Haven 33881 · website mywinterhaven.com
Fishing piers
- Lake Howard — no fee, open 6am–6pm. Winter Haven, City of Winter Haven. E Lake Howard Dr. and Pope Ave, Winter Haven 33881
- South Lake Howard Nature Park — no fee. Winter Haven, City of Winter Haven. 570 Lake Howard Dr. SW, Winter Haven 33880 · hours: 7AM - 8PM, Open Dialy
2 of the 4 places listed have both a fee and opening hours on file: a blank means we hold no such field, not that it is free or always open, and this list may not be complete.
What is hard here
With 98.4% of the water 15 feet or less, low level turns the flats into hazards. Only 2 public ramps are on file, so the launch decides where you fish. Alligators live in Florida fresh water. Keep clear of the bank edge at dawn and dusk, and keep pets away from it. Summer water sits at 87°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.
Where this data comes from
- Florida FWC — FWC Florida lake bathymetry: class A, a survey of the bottom.
