Butterfield Lake near Crosslake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Crow Wing County entry here is Butterfield Lake, in Minnesota. The setting is mixed forest. It measures about 193 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The perimeter runs near 3.4 miles, so plan the walk before you start. You are 7.8 miles from Crosslake. Breezy Point is 15 miles away, with Pequot Lakes at 17 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Butterfield Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Crow Wing County records list largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Butterfield Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 68°F for July and 6°F for January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Anyone fishing Butterfield Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Buchite Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Butterfield Lake before loading the car.