Butternut

Crow Wing County

Near Bay Lake

DOW: 18010800

Northern PikeGood · 70Yellow PerchGood · 63BluegillGood · 55

A 26-acre lake near Bay Lake in Crow Wing County — best known for pike and panfish. Last surveyed 1989.

Fish Species (6)

Northern Pike

Good · 70

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.69 lbs

Catch rate: 8.5 per gill net · typical 2.7–9.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 1989	8.50	-	2.69 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 26, 1989	0.75	-	0.92 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 63

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.27 lbs

Catch rate: 3.0 per gill net · typical 1.9–19.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 1989	3.00	-	0.27 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluegill

Good · 55

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 31.0 per trap net · typical 2.9–41.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 1989	31.00	-	0.14 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Average · 48

Average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.36 lbs

Catch rate: 5.3 per trap net · typical 0.4–2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 1989	5.25	-	0.36 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (2)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Yellow Bullhead

Good · 60

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.29 lbs

Catch rate: 9.8 per trap net · typical 1.4–7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 1989	9.75	-	0.29 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 26, 1989	54.50	-	0.18 lbs	Standard gill nets

White Sucker

Good · 50

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 1989	0.50	-	2.00 lbs	Standard gill nets

Biologist Notes

July 26, 1989Yellow bullhead net catches indicate above average population levels. The catch rates exceed the third quartile of the median of lakes in lake class 2…

Yellow bullhead net catches indicate above average population levels. The catch rates exceed the third quartile of the median of lakes in lake class 29. Yellow bullhead show smaller than average size fish for lake class 29 with sizes being less than the first quartile. Largemouth bass net catches indicate above average population levels with fish in the average range. Northern pike and yellow perch net catches indicate average population levels with both species having larger than average sized fish. In comparing the survey data from 1973 to the survey in 1989, bluegill population has done up with average size fish going down. There were no yellow perch or yellow bullheads caught during the 1973 survey, yet both species show substantial fish populations in 1989.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Butternut?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass in Butternut. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Butternut?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Butternut. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Butternut?

Butternut has a maximum depth of 34 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Butternut last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Butternut is from 1989. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.