Minnesota · St. Louis County
Birch Lake Fishing guide
Birch Lake sits in St. Louis County, Minnesota, and covers 7,074 acres, reaching 25 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 5.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 15 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeExcellent numbers10.2per gill net12"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 122 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 122 fish
2025Lengths measured · 192 fish
2020Lengths measured · 161 fish
2015Lengths measured · 107 fish
2012No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeJust a few1.1per gill net23"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 13 fish
2025Lengths measured · 21 fish
2020Lengths measured · 10 fish
2015Lengths measured · 20 fish
2012Yellow perchFair numbers2.3per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 28 fish
2025Lengths measured · 47 fish
2020Lengths measured · 42 fish
2015Lengths measured · 36 fish
2012Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Birch Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28" | 5" | 37" |
| 2020 | 29" | 15" | 34" |
| 2015 | 28" | 14" | 40" |
| 2012 | 29" | — | 39" |
| 2009 | 28" | 18" | 39" |
| 2006 | 23" | 15" | 32" |
| 2003 | 29" | 15" | 26" |
| 2000 | 22" | 13" | 29" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Birch Lake is a 7074-acre, 15-mile-long reservoir located northeast of Babbitt in the Superior National Forest. It is a popular multi-species fishery comparable to Bear Island, Fall, and White Iron in the Tower Area. Impounding the confluence of four rivers, Birch is expansive and generally shallow, with most of the basin varying around 20 feet depending on water levels. Bog-stained waters, limited aquatic vegetation, and low productivity are hallmarks of Kawishiwi drainage lakes, and Birch is no exception. Only 15% of the lake's surface area is littoral, with its litany of rocky shorelines abruptly dropping to basin depths. Several large, shallow bays are present with locally abundant submerged vegetation. Wind and current prevent Birch from stratifying, and the lake was mixed during the survey. Dissolved oxygen levels sufficient for gamefish were present to the bottom of the lake. Secchi visibility was 7 feet.
Four public accesses span the length of the lake and allow flexibility for wind. Several resorts and houseboat rentals operate out of Birch, and 16 U.S. Forest Service maintained campsites provide first come first serve camping options. Two USFS campgrounds are present, and the city of Babbitt operates a campground as well. Numerous lake homes and cabins dot the lake, but a majority of the shoreline is under public ownership and remains undeveloped. Overall, Birch provides a unique wilderness-adjacent fishery with a myriad of water to explore.
Read the full DNR narrative
This mid-summer survey used only gill net sets, which target walleye and northern pike most effectively. The total catch of 31.0 fish/gill net was slightly below the long-term average for Birch. Walleye, cisco, northern pike, and white sucker made up the bulk of the catch, with some yellow perch, rock bass, black crappie, and smallmouth also present. A separate, targeted trap net survey was conducted earlier in the spring and provides insight into the lake's panfish populations. The results of that survey are described in another report.
Walleye numbers (10.1/net) were about average compared to past surveys of Birch but remain high for the Tower Area. Size structure was typical, with lengths ranging from 7.5 inches to 28.5 inches and an average length of 13 inches. Walleye aged were from 0 to 14 years old and growth was slow by area standards. Walleye recruitment was consistent out to age five, but both the 2021 and 2023 year classes were notably abundant.
Northern pike abundance (1.1/net) was below average, but sizes were greater than average. Lengths ranged from 16 to 37 inches with an average length of 25 inches. Over 20% of the catch exceeded 30 inches in length, Which reflects Birch Lake's a well-earned reputation as a trophy pike fishery. From 2003 to 2025, northern pike harvest on Birch Lake and the Garden Reservoir Chain was restricted with a protected 24-36" slot and three fish possession limit, with one fish of 36" allowed. This was rescinded in 2024, and these lakes are now included in the northeast zone regulation of a two-fish possession limit, 30-40" protected slot, and only one fish over 40" allowed.
Cisco numbers (9.3/net) were above average. Cisco abundance is often variable in gill nets, and Birch is no exception. Past catches peaked at 16.6/net and have dipped to 1.8/net. Average length was just over 9 inches and sizes were typical for Birch. Lengths ranged from 7.5 to 14 inches
Yellow perch numbers (2.3/net) were notably low compared to past surveys. Lengths ranged from 5.5 to 9.5 inches with an average length just under 7 inches. Perch are a primary forage species for walleye and often fluctuate in tandem with walleye populations.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Birch Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Birch Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Birch Lake (NE) (trailer launch)
- Birch Lake (S) (trailer launch)
- Birch Lake (W) (trailer launch)
- Birch Lake, Hwy 1 (carry-in)
- Birch Lake Resevoir Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Birch Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Little Lake · 72 ac · 1.8 mi
- Blueberry Lake · 125 ac · 3.4 mi
- Perch Lake · 100 ac · 3.6 mi
- Whisper Lake · 46 ac · 3.9 mi
- One Pine Lake · 354 ac · 4.4 mi
- Johnson Lake · 456 ac · 5.6 mi
- Bear Island Lake · 2,363 ac · 6.4 mi
- Harris Lake · 122 ac · 7.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Birch Lake?
Birch Lake reaches 25 ft at its deepest point; about 15% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Birch Lake?
Birch Lake covers 7,074 acres with about 90.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Birch Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Birch Lake average 5.7 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Birch Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Birch Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Birch Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Birch Lake have a public access?
Yes. Birch Lake has 5 public access sites, including Birch Lake (NE) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Birch Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2000.
When was Birch Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Birch Lake in 2025, the most recent of 15 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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