Minnesota · Todd County
Little Birch Lake Fishing guide
Little Birch Lake is a 839-acre lake in Todd County, Minnesota, reaching 89 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 11.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 29 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3per gill net16"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 60 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2025Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 60 fish
2023Lengths measured · 11 fish
2021Lengths measured · 3 fish
2020Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassGood numbers52per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 64 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 64 fish
2023Lengths measured · 16 fish
2019Lengths measured · 93 fish
2018Lengths measured · 7 fish
2015Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Smallmouth bassFair numbers15per hr (electrofishing)17"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 44 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 44 fish
2023Lengths measured · 34 fish
2019Lengths measured · 42 fish
2018Lengths measured · 1 fish
2015Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeGood numbers11.6per gill net23"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 142 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 142 fish
2023Lengths measured · 103 fish
2019Lengths measured · 15 fish
2018Lengths measured · 4 fish
2015Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillPresent1.1per gill net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 573 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 573 fish
2023Lengths measured · 14 fish
2019Lengths measured · 564 fish
2018Lengths measured · 829 fish
2015CrappiePresent22per hr (electrofishing)10"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 38 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 38 fish
2023Lengths measured · 4 fish
2019Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 25 fish
2018Lengths measured · 5 fish
2015Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassGood numbers2.1per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 24 fish
2023Lengths measured · 33 fish
2019Lengths measured · 58 fish
2018Lengths measured · 22 fish
2015No recent survey rating.
Rates 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 Little Birch Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 11.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 89 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 11.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 89 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 11" |
| 2023 | 17" | 34" | 27" |
| 2021 | — | — | 7" |
| 2020 | — | — | 15" |
| 2019 | 19" | 31" | 23" |
| 2018 | 18" | 27" | 29" |
| 2017 | — | — | 24" |
| 2016 | — | — | 23" |
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:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 800,000 fry · 886 yearlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 4,125 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 650,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 800,000 fry · 5,540 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 800,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 400,000 fry · 9,504 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 800,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 400,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 400,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Little Birch Lake (DOW# 77-0089; Lake Class 22) is an 839-acre lake located near Grey Eagle, Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned concrete boat ramp is located on the northwest shore. Little Birch Lake has 8.61 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 89 feet. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and secondarily for Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. The Lake was initially surveyed in 1981, and 39 fish sampling surveys or investigations have occurred since then with the most recent prior sampling in 2023 (Fall Young of Year Walleye Assessment). Fall night electrofishing has been completed on an annual or biennial basis since 1995 on Little Birch Lake.
Fall night electrofishing totaling 1 hour of on time was conducted on Little Birch Lake to evaluate young of the year Walleye abundance from fry stocking. Walleye fry (800,00 fry, 3,000/littoral acre) were stocked in spring 2025. The sampling crew noted high amounts of submerged vegetation in normally barren shallow sampling stations, which may have impacted young of the year Walleye catches. No young of the year Walleye were captured during this survey. In past surveys the typical catch is 10 YWAE but as many as 76 have been captured. Walleye averaging 6.0-7.0 inches in length are captured during in an hour of fall electrofishing on Little Birch Lake. One yearling or older Walleye was captured during sampling with a length of 11.50 inches. Fall fingerling stockings have contributed significantly to the fishery in the past, although current high Northern Pike populations may limit survival of these fish. Anglers are encouraged to harvest pike on Little Birch Lake according to statewide regulations, especially those under 22 inches. Doing so may help with future Walleye management.
Read the full DNR narrative
Historically, fall young of the year Walleye electrofishing catch rates have not corresponded well with future gill net catches, suggesting they may be imprecise indicator of recruitment to the fishery. In other words, if fall electrofishing survey documents the presence of young of the year Walleye, a year class of unknown strength has been produced. However, if fall electrofishing fails to capture young Walleye, it does not necessarily indicate that no year class was produced. In the past, gill net surveys have identified good year classes from years when no young Walleyes were caught in fall electrofishing surveys. It is also important to note that summer catches have regularly documented year classes from non-stocked years indicating that significant natural reproduction or immigration from other lakes occurs.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Birch Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little 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
- Little Birch Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Little Birch Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Sylvia Lake · 85 ac · 1.8 mi
- Big Birch Lake · 2,107 ac · 2.1 mi
- Hennessy Lake · 52 ac · 2.7 mi
- Fuller Lake · 52 ac · 3.1 mi
- Trace Lake · 253 ac · 4.2 mi
- Bass Lake · 94 ac · 4.2 mi
- Long Lake · 230 ac · 4.5 mi
- Twin Lake · 121 ac · 5.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Birch Lake?
Little Birch Lake reaches 89 ft at its deepest point; about 33% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Birch Lake?
Little Birch Lake covers 839 acres with about 8.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Birch Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Birch Lake average 11.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Birch Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, channel catfish.
Is Little Birch Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Little Birch Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Birch Lake has one public access site: Little Birch Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Little Birch Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 17"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2016.
When was Little Birch Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Birch Lake in 2025, the most recent of 29 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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