Butternut Lake
Forest County, Wisconsin · WBIC 692400
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
1,292 acres
Max depth
42 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Two Story
Water clarity
15 ft
Clear, measured Aug 2026
A deep lake type that can hold a cold layer below the warm surface in summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1991), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
15 ft Secchi depthClear
Last measured Aug 30, 2026. 179 readings on record, 1987 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 18 ft, clear, from 48 readings (2012 to 2026).
Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.
Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station BUTTERNUT LAKE - SITE 3-DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
70°F surface, measured Aug 30, 2026
Measured near the surface (0.3 m down). A single reading, not a daily value.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 25 (Apr 17 to May 2)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 8 (May 4 to May 13)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout Jun 7 (May 30 to Jun 10)
- June surface67°F, usually 65 to 69°F
- July surface74°F, usually 72 to 75°F
- August surface71°F, usually 70 to 73°F
Forms a warm top layer around Jun 9, lasting about 39 days.
A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was not calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.
Measured: Wisconsin DNR via the Water Quality Portal (checked Oct 23, 2026). Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
Boat landings
- 1Butternut Lake - North AccessBoat ramp · Concrete Panels surface · Federal
Directions - 2Butternut Lake - South AccessBoat ramp · Concrete Plank surface · Federal
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Fishing from shore
- BUTTERNUT LAKE FISHING PIERDirections · DNR details
Wisconsin DNR shore fishing sites. Checked Oct 24, 2026.
More lakes in Forest County
- Harmony Lake0.8 miles away
- Gertrude Lake0.9 miles away
- Three Johns Lake0.9 miles away
- Harriet Lake1.0 miles away
- McKinley Lake1.1 miles away
- Four Ducks Lake1.1 miles away
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Boat landingsWisconsin DNR public boat access sites, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Measured temperatureWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Shore fishing sitesWisconsin DNR shore fishing sites, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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