Butler Lake Fishing near Howard City, Michigan

• Overview

  Set in Newaygo County, Butler Lake is a Michigan water. It lies 928 feet above sea level. At roughly 5 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Newaygo County. For supplies, Howard City is 9.1 miles out. Cedar Springs is 9.1 miles and Newaygo 9.9 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Butler Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Newaygo County include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and johnny darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Butler Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 21°F in January up to 69°F in July. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Butler Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Moore Lake sits 1.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Butler Lake are worth checking on the day.