Big Butternut Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2641000
This lake has fishing rules that differ from the standard ones for its area. Check the official rules before you fish. Official regulations
Size
378 acres
Max depth
19 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
4.5 ft
Low, measured Jul 2023
A warm-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that warm up through 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 1983), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
4.5 ft Secchi depthLow
Last measured Jul 16, 2023. 213 readings on record, 1995 to 2023.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 3.5 ft, low, from 53 readings (2012 to 2023).
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 BIG BUTTERNUT LAKE - DEEP HOLE. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 18 (Apr 10 to Apr 26)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 2 (Apr 22 to May 8)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 29 (May 26 to Jun 5)
- June surface72°F, usually 69 to 72°F
- July surface78°F, usually 77 to 80°F
- August surface76°F, usually 75 to 78°F
Mixes regularly through the summer instead of forming a warm top layer.
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.
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.
Stocking history
- Walleyelast stocked 2025 (large fingerling and small fingerling); stocked in 10 years since 2010
Stocking shows what was added to the lake, not what is in it now.
Wisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Boat landings
- 1Big Butternut Lake Boat RampBoat ramp · Concrete surface · Accessible features · Village
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Fishing from shore
- BIG BUTTERNUT LAKE FISHING PIERDirections · DNR details
Wisconsin DNR shore fishing sites. Checked Oct 24, 2026.
More lakes in Polk County
- Little Butternut Lake2.0 miles away
- Antler Lake2.9 miles away
- Straight Lake3.2 miles away
- Kenny Lake4.2 miles away
- Bone Lake4.3 miles away
- Long Lake4.5 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
- Stocking historyWisconsin DNR annual fish stocking summary, 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
- 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.
Something wrong on this page? Report a problem.