Birch Lake

How big is Birch Lake?

How deep is Birch Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Birch Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Birch Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Birch Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Birch Lake

Are there boat launches on Birch Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Birch Lake?

This was the first of three standard surveys scheduled in the 2014 lake management plan to evaluate a change in Rainbow Trout stocking quota and frequency, slated to begin in 2016. It was also the final survey done to evaluate Brook Trout yearling stocking in this lake, which was discontinued after 2015. Beginning in 2016, Rainbow Trout yearlings will be stocked annually, rather than every-other year.

Rainbow Trout were fairly abundant in the fall of 2015, and although no large fish were taken, their mean length (about 16 inches) was high enough to drive some high-quality fishing. The combined Rainbow Trout catch in deep and shallow gill net sets (3.0 fish/set) met the long range goal from the 2014 plan (a minimum of 2.0 fish/set). The mean weight for Rainbow Trout collected in 2015 equaled the long range goal from the 2014 plan (1.4 lb/fish). The catch consisted entirely of two-year-old fish from the 2014 yearling stocking. Survival of fish to older ages seemed to have been low, but that was not surprising in this popular and accessible lake. The shift to annual stocking should result in fish up to three years of age being more consistently present in this lake. Rainbow Trout growth appeared to have been somewhat faster than average; fish reached a mean length of 12.5 inches by the end of their second year, compared to an area average of 11.6 inches. The relatively high number of fish surviving to almost three years of age, and the good growth rates exhibited by those fish, suggested that this lake could be managed successfully for Rainbow Trout despite the presence of Smallmouth Bass.

Despite regular stocking, few Brook Trout were found in 2015. The combined Brook Trout catch in deep and shallow gill net sets (0.3 fish/set) was low, falling below the normal range (1.25 - 14.00 fish/set) for gill net catches in fall surveys of stream trout lakes in the Grand Marais area. Of the three Brook Trout collected, two were probably survivors of the 2015 yearling stocking. The third may have been produced naturally; Brook Trout (and Splake) not accounted for by any stocking have been taken in small numbers in this lake in the past. It appeared that alternate-year yearling stocking in this lake since 2009 had not produced a significant Brook Trout population, although a few have survived. Brook Trout may compete more directly with Smallmouth Bass for available forage, and their smaller size at stocking may have left them more vulnerable to predation.

Despite marginal temperature-oxygen conditions that provide little or no suitable habitat in many years, a small natural Lake Trout population has persisted in Birch Lake. The Lake Trout catch was similar to catches seen in this lake since Lake Trout stocking was discontinued, but was low compared to other area Lake Trout lakes. Both of the Lake Trout taken in this survey were small, young fish that would have been produced naturally.

Catches in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets indicated there has been no recovery of the nearshore fish community, which collapsed after Smallmouth Bass became established in this lake. As has been the case in most recent surveys, no minnows were found and it appeared that Smallmouth Bass dominated nearshore areas, at least at this time of year.

Are there any state parks near Birch Lake?