Arbutus Lake* Fishing
A 774-acre Wisconsin flowage in Jackson County and Clark County, down to 50 feet.
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Arbutus Lake* at a glance
Find a Lake puts Arbutus Lake* at 774 acres, inside Jackson County and Clark County. Maximum depth on file is 50 feet, with a mean of 16 feet. Hatfield is the nearest community, about 2 miles away. The DNR manages it from the West Central Region. Biologists sort it into the complex riverine lake class.
Musky anglers will find it on the DNR list, natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2). Species on record are northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, largemouth bass and muskellunge. You can put in at 4 public boat landings. Satellite readings put average clarity near 7.3 feet (2016).
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For Arbutus Lake*, Find a Lake gives each fish group an abundance rating.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Northern Pike | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Catfish | Present |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Musky | Present |
| Panfish | Present |
The DNR files Arbutus Lake* musky as natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
The class profile behind Arbutus Lake*
“Complex riverine lakes often support great fisheries for riverine species like smallmouth bass, and in some systems, walleye.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Trailering to a landing on Arbutus Lake*
- East Arbutus Park Boat Ramp1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, East Arbutus County Park
- North Arbutus Boat Landing1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, restroom, Clark County Forestry & Parks
- North Arnold Creek Access1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Clark County Forestry & Parks
- West Arbutus County Park Boat Ramp1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, Forestry & Parks Dept.
Landings within a short drive of Arbutus Lake*
- Russell County Park Boat Ramp #3Arnold Creek, under a mile south
- Windy Point Boat LandingBlack River, 2 miles northeast
- East Fork Canoe LaunchEast Fork Black River, 2 miles east
- Brickyard Road Canoe LandingBlack River, 4 miles southwest
- Merrillan Park AccessTrow Lake, 5 miles west
- Mission Road Canoe LaunchBlack River, 6 miles southwest
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Clarity, bottom and depth at Arbutus Lake*
Arbutus Lake* has a bottom that is 47% sand, 30% gravel, 12% rock, 11% muck, according to WDNR.
The DNR calls Arbutus Lake* a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
WDNR records these invasives in Arbutus Lake*: phragmites (non-native). Drain water and remove plants at the landing.
Local boating ordinances on Arbutus Lake* cover behavior-safe riding capacities, racing, ice traffic regulation, noise levels, right of way, speed limits (mph), swimming regulations, water exhibitions and races, water skiing restrictions.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Keeper rules for Arbutus Lake*
Seasons, size limits and daily bags below are copied from the WDNR entry for Arbutus Lake*.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 15" and the daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Rough fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| White perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. |
WDNR attaches this general rule to Arbutus Lake*: Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
For all of Jackson County the guide reads: Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person).
Zone check for Arbutus Lake*: south of Hwy 10, Southern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Stocking records for Arbutus Lake*
Between 2023 and 2025, 5 recorded releases put 16,000 fish into Arbutus Lake*.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Yellow perch | large fingerling | 5 in | 4,000 |
| 2025 | Yellow perch | yearling | 6 in | 1,500 |
| 2024 | Yellow perch | yearling | 5 in | 5,000 |
| 2023 | Yellow perch | large fingerling | 5 in | 3,000 |
| 2023 | Yellow perch | yearling | 6 in | 2,500 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
How Arbutus Lake* compares nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arbutus Lake* | 774 | 50 | 4 | complex riverine | |
| Upper Backwater | 2 miles southwest | 24 | 19 | 0 | complex warm dark |
| Oxbow Pond | 4 miles south | 5 | 5 | 0 | simple trout pond |
| Trow Lake (L Merrillan Pond) | 5 miles west | 38 | 9 | 1 | simple riverine |
| Oakwood Lake (U Merrillan Pond) | 6 miles west | 15 | 13 | 0 | simple trout pond |
| Teal Flowage, Jackson County | 7 miles south | 16 | 10 | 1 | simple warm clear |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Around Arbutus Lake*
Lakes a few miles from Arbutus Lake*
- Upper Backwater2 miles southwest
- Oxbow Pond4 miles south
- Trow Lake (L Merrillan Pond)5 miles west
- Oakwood Lake (U Merrillan Pond)6 miles west
- Teal Flowage, Jackson County7 miles south
Bait and gear stops around Arbutus Lake*
- Hatfield Sports Shopbait and tackle shop, Hatfield, under a mile
- Walmart Black River Fallsfarm and general store with fishing gear, Black River Falls, 11 miles
- Moe Hardware & Sporting LLCsporting goods store, Black River Falls, 11 miles
- Hardscrabble Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Black River Falls, 11 miles
Towns close to Arbutus Lake*
- Hatfield2 miles
- Merrillan6 miles
- Mission6 miles
The county side of Arbutus Lake*
- Jackson Countyseat: Black River Falls
- Clark Countyseat: Neillsville
A Piscifun kit for Arbutus Lake*
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Sport fish found around Arbutus Lake*
Photo: Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Before a trip to Arbutus Lake*, the short answers
Where is Arbutus Lake* on a Wisconsin map?
The lake lies in Jackson County and Clark County, WDNR West Central Region, about 2 miles from Hatfield.
What maximum depth does the WDNR list for Arbutus Lake*?
Find a Lake gives 774 acres and 50 feet at the deepest.
How many landings does Arbutus Lake* have?
4 mapped landings; East Arbutus Park Boat Ramp is the largest.
What species are in Arbutus Lake*?
northern pike (common), smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common), catfish (present), largemouth bass (present), muskellunge (present) and panfish (present), per the WDNR.
What are the walleye rules on Arbutus Lake*?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids rule: The minimum length limit is 15" and the daily bag limit is 3.
What does a Wisconsin license cost for a trip to Arbutus Lake*?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
What is the bottom of Arbutus Lake* like?
Satellite clarity about 7.3 feet (2016). Bottom: 47% sand, 30% gravel, 12% rock, 11% muck. WDNR class: complex riverine. Type: drainage.
Is there a tackle store near Arbutus Lake*?
Hatfield Sports Shop is nearest at under a mile.
Is Arbutus Lake* a stocked lake?
Yes; the latest WDNR record is 2025: 4,000 yellow perch and 1,500 yellow perch.
Make a weekend of Arbutus Lake*
Wisconsin license costs and limits are one click away.