Fishing at Big Butternut Lake, Polk County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Big Butternut Lake is set in Polk County, Wisconsin. It sits at 1,198 feet above sea level. At some 384 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The edge covers about 3.3 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. On our Polk County list it sits near the top for size. You are 1.2 miles from Luck. Frederic is 6.1 miles and Saint Croix Falls 14 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Big Butternut Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Polk County include brown trout, rainbow trout, northern pike and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Big Butternut Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 10°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Big Butternut Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Murdock Lake, 1.5 miles out. The position on Big Butternut Lake is worth confirming on the day.