Fishing

There are many opportunities for several different styles and tastes of fishing due to a large community of trophy, game, and forage species with Butternut Lake.  Such targets include musky, walleye, crappie, yellow perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. 

Of these popular species, the most abundant in Butternut Lake are musky and walleye.

Musky can be found roaming any of the areas beyond the lake’s drop offs and deep regions.  The large and open southern section of Butternut Lake is a good place for musky fishermen to target.  When the musky season opens in the spring target the shallow bays which will hold warmer waters using spinners and smaller crankbaits.  During the summer target the deeper weed edges and the area near the center of the lake called "the Narrows".  Musky will often suspend off the drop-offs.  Fall is big fish season and Butternut musky will not disappoint.  Try larger jerk baits over deeper waters.

Walleye can also be targeted within these deep waters throughout the early spring to late fall period.  While larger walleye tend to reside in the deeper areas, moderate to small sized walleye can be targeted near shoreline areas during the spring spawn.  Numerous options can be used for walleye fishing, but crankbaits tend to be a popular and successful choice. Try fishing "the Narrows" and the channels near Eagle Island.

Not nearly as abundant as walleye and musky, the largemouth & smallmouth bass still offers some considerable opportunities for high quality fishing.  Bass can be found during the day in shallow open waters, beyond drop offs, and near lake points.  During the morning and evening feeding times, anglers should adjust their strategies to target the edges and gaps of weed beds.  The area near Butternut Creek and the northernmost section of the lake are both ideal for bass fishing. 

Since the northern pike is a predator to many small game fish and forage fish, the weed beds and areas of submerged timber near the shoreline are great places to begin searching for it.  Various shallow locations across the entire lake are ideal for targeting northern pike. 

Also in these shallow, sheltered areas, panfish such as yellow perch, crappie and bluegill can offer a simpler, but nonetheless exciting, fishing experience.  Target the fish cribs, rocks and weed edges to locate fish. 

Facilities

The facilities and accommodations of Butternut Lake include four boat landings, public access points, piers, fueling stations, fishing guides, boat rentals, cleaning stations, tackle shops, stores, lodging, and nearby restaurants. 

The Lake

Butternut Lake has a total surface area of 983 acres.  At its deepest point, it is 32 feet.  Under normal conditions, clarity is low.  Butternut Lake has a muddy bottom with several beds of aquatic vegetation and areas of submerged timber.

Butternut is an excellent fishing location for the angler in search of high quality musky fishing with the opportunity for targeting other popular species.

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