Butterball Lake near Hoyt Lakes: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Saint Louis County, Minnesota, is where Butterball Lake sits. It sits in mixed forest. The water covers around 439 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. There is roughly 4.4 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Size puts it in the front rank of our Saint Louis County list. The closest town, Hoyt Lakes, is 13 miles away. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 137 miles distant. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Butterball Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Saint Louis County include yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Butterball Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 4°F and July at about 64°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Butterball Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Little Butterball Lake, 1.4 miles away. Check the position on Butterball Lake before loading the car.