Fishing at Butternut Lake, Newaygo County, Michigan

• Overview

  Butternut Lake stands in Newaygo County, Michigan. The ground around here is rolling bush. Around 25 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Head to Fremont, 13 miles away, for anything you forgot. It is 50 miles to Grand Rapids, the nearest city. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Butternut Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Newaygo County include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and johnny darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Treat Butternut Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 21°F to 69°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to Butternut Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is a slipway at McLaren Lake Public Boat Launch, roughly half a mile off. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try McLaren Lake, 0.4 miles away. Treat Butternut Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.