Birch Lake
Lake County, Minnesota
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We want to see what you've caught on Birch Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Birch Lake, MN
- How big is Birch Lake?
- How deep is Birch Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Birch Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Birch Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Birch Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Birch Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Birch Lake?
How big is Birch Lake?
How deep is Birch Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Birch Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Cisco (Tullibee), Hybrid Sunfish, Lake Whitefish, Shorthead Redhorse and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Birch Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Birch Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Birch Lake?
Explore the Birch Lake area in a RV
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History & Status of the Fishery
Birch Lake is located approximately 18 miles NE of Ely within the BWCAW. The northern half of the lake is part of Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park. Birch Lake is 836 acres with 397 of these acres in Minnesota. Visitors should be familiar with appropriate regulations when traveling these wilderness areas.
Birch Lake is a popular destination for wilderness enthusiasts and is often used by visitors traveling to or from points beyond. The two most used accesses are by a short portage or navigable channel from nearby Sucker Lake where outboard motors are allowed. No motors are allowed on Birch Lake however. There are 12 designated USFS campsites scattered along the southern shoreline for overnight use.
Ten species of fish were sampled during the 2017 survey on Birch Lake. The total number of fish (42.8/gill net) was the most recorded since the 1995 survey. Walleye (38%) were the most common species sampled. Smallmouth bass were sampled in numbers slightly above average and a few largemouth bass also. Northern pike numbers continue to be stable on Birch Lake and bluegill abundance appears to be increasing.
Walleye numbers in 2017 (16.5/gill net) were the highest recorded on Birch Lake. The catch was above the historic average (9.2/gill net) for the lake and above average (6.2/gill net) compared to other similar lakes in the area with walleye. The average walleye sampled was 16 inches long and about 4 years old. Sixty-eight percent of the walleye were 15 inches or larger with a maximum length of almost 27 inches.
Smallmouth bass numbers in 2017 (2.2/gill net) were slightly above the historic average (1.2/gill net) and also above average (1.2/gill net) compared to other similar area lakes. The average smallmouth sampled was 11 inches long and about 5 years old. The largest smallmouth sampled in 2017 was 18 inches long.
Northern pike numbers in 2017 (3.0/gill net) were similar to the historic average (3.4/gill net) and slightly above average (2.1/gill net) compared to other similar lakes in the area with pike. The average pike sampled was 26.1 inches which is similar to the historic average length of 25.6 for pike in Birch Lake. The largest pike measured was just over 38 inches long.
What is the average air temp for Birch Lake?
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Birch Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Perdu Lake | 0.6 mi | 10 | |
| Spigot Lake | 1.0 mi | 17 | |
| Splash Lake | 1.5 mi | 92 | 18 ft |
| Sucker Lake | 1.5 mi | 393 | 31 ft |
| Frog Lake | 1.7 mi | 53 | 38 ft |
| Trident Lake | 1.8 mi | 93 | 14 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 2.3 mi | 15 | |
| Grub Lake | 2.6 mi | 31 | 31 ft |
| Wooden Leg Lake | 2.8 mi | 25 | |
| Juggler Lake | 2.9 mi | 20 |
