Fishing at Buttermilk Lake, Wexford County, Michigan

• Overview

  Wexford County, Michigan, is where Buttermilk Lake sits. The bank is 1,033 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Wexford County list. Supplies mean a trip to Manton, 3.5 miles off. Kingsley lies 11 miles off, Cadillac another 13 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Buttermilk Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Wexford County include bluegill, yellow perch and rock bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Buttermilk Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 67°F and January near 19°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On Buttermilk Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Billings Lake is 3.7 miles off. Check the position on Buttermilk Lake before loading the car.