Birch

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. 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.

Birch Lake is a 15 mile long reservoir located northeast of Babbitt. It is accessible by four public ramps and several portages/carry-ins. This 7,074 acre lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and brown water. Several major inlets flow into Birch Lake and the only outlet is the Kawishiwi River which flows out the far northern tip of the lake. A dam at the outlet is used to control water supplies for the Winton hydroelectric facility downstream at the outlet of Garden Lake; dam operation can result in winter drawdowns of up to 4 feet at times. On August 17, 2020 Birch Lake was thermally mixed with a surface temperature of 72 F and a bottom temperature of 71 F. Oxygen levels were adequate for gamefish throughout the water column. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline of Birch Lake are mostly boulder and ledgerock, with gravel, sand and muck in the bays. Aquatic vegetation grows to a depth of 5 feet and is generally limited to the bays. In the 2020 survey, 192 walleye were sampled for a catch rate of 16.0 fish/gill net, which was very good compared to other similar lakes in the state and the second highest ever on Birch Lake. Walleye lengths ranged from 8 to 29 inches with an average of 12 inches which was slightly below normal compared to past surveys on the lake. Mean weight per fish was just under a pound which was on the low side compared to other similar lakes. Walleye growth was also slower than normal compared to other lakes in the Tower area. Despite large numbers of fish, ages tended to be young with just over 90% of the total catch being five years old or younger. The northern pike gillnet catch rate of 1.8 fish/net falls just shy of average for Birch Lake and other similar lakes in the state. Lengths ranged from 14 to 35 inches with an average of 23 inches. A special regulation for northern pike (24-36 inch protected slot with one over 36 inches allowed in possession) went into effect in 2003. Pre-regulation August assessments showed that on average, only 29% of northern pike captured were greater than or equal to 24 inches long. Post-regulation assessments continue to show improvement with 49% of pike greater than or equal to 24 inches. Consequently average lengths also improved with a pre-regulation average of 23 inches compared to a post-regulation average of 25 inches. The cisco (tullibee) catch rate in 2020 was 10.4 fish/net which was above average compared to past investigations on the lake. The average weight was just over a half a pound and sizes ranged from 7 to 16 inches with an average of 10 inches. Other species sampled in low numbers were yellow perch, white sucker, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and rock bass. Rusty crayfish are an invasive species that exists in Birch Lake and are in high abundance in lakes downstream of Birch Lake. Counts in Birch Lake have been made of rusty crayfish entangled in gill nets since they first appeared in 2003. Numbers have generally remained low but do show an increasing trend through 2020.

Birch Lake is a 15 mile long reservoir located northeast of Babbitt. It is accessible by four public ramps and several portages/carry-ins. This 7074 acre lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and brown water. Several major inlets flow into Birch Lake from west to east including: Birch River, Dunka River, Stony River, Keeley Creek and Kawishiwi River. The only outlet is the Kawishiwi River which flows out the far northern tip of the lake. A dam at the outlet is used to control water supplies for the Winton hydroelectric facility downstream at the outlet of Garden Lake; dam operation can result in winter drawdowns of up to 4 feet at times. On August 17, 2015 Birch Lake was not thermally stratified with a surface temperature of 74 F and a bottom temperature of 70 F. Oxygen levels were adequate for gamefish throughout the depth range. Birch Lake is one of the most heavily used lakes in the Tower Fisheries Management area. Its close proximity to Ely and Babbitt allow for easy access by local residents and vacationers. Two US Forest Service maintained campgrounds are located on the lake. Two resorts on the west end offer houseboat rentals and the Forest Service maintains several houseboat accessible campsites throughout the lake. Although the west end near Babbitt has a fair amount of development (compared to other lakes in the area) the majority of the lakes shoreline is public land and remains undeveloped. Most shorelines and islands are heavily wooded. Lake bottoms along the shoreline of Birch Lake are mostly boulder and ledgerock, with gravel, sand and muck in the bays. Aquatic vegetation grows to a depth of 5 feet and is generally limited to the bays. The basin of Birch Lake is a complex of old river beds that are now impounded by the downstream dam. Because of this unique lake bed structure, many of the shorelines drop off quickly. Birch Lake has a long and varied walleye stocking history dating back to 1928. Fry, fingerlings and occasionally adults have all been stocked. Stocking was discontinued after 2002 when it was determined that it was largely ineffective due to the lakes ability to sustain itself through natural reproduction. A special regulation to increase northern pike sizes began in 2003. This regulation was a 24-36 inch protected slot limit with one pike over 36 inches allowed in possession. This population assessment consisted of only gillnet sets. Fish species sampled were walleye, cisco, white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, black crappie, rock bass, smallmouth bass and bluegill. A total of 161 walleye were sampled for a catch rate just over 13 fish/net, which is quite high compared to other similar lakes throughout the state and good compared to other previous surveys on Birch Lake. Sizes were from 8 to 29 inches with an average of 12 inches. The average weight was just under a pound which is somewhat small compared to other similar lakes. Walleye growth is slow compared to other lakes in the area. Ages ranged from 0 to 15 but trended toward young fish. Nearly 93% of the total catch was younger than age 5. The northern pike gillnet catch was just under one fish per net which is low compared to other assessments of Birch Lake. Sizes were good with fish from 18 to 40 inches sampled. The average length was just over 25 inches and average weight was nearly 5 pounds. A special fishing regulation for northern pike (24-36 inch protected slot with one over 36 inches allowed in possession) went into effect in 2003. Assessments before the regulation showed that on average, only 29% of northern pike captured were bigger than 24 inches. Assessments after the regulation have shown improvement with 52% of pike sampled being bigger than 24 inches. The average length has also improved from 23 inches to 25 inches. The yellow perch gillnet catch was 3.5 fish/net which is close to average for Birch Lake. Historically, the yellow perch population has been quite stable. In 2015, fish averaged 0.2 pounds and lengths were from 7 to 10 inches. Cisco numbers in 2015 are slightly better than average although they have historically been highly variable. The average fish weighed nearly a pound with lengths ranging from 8 to 17 inches. The white sucker gillnet catch was nearly 6 fish/net which is above average. The average weight was nearly a pound and a half with fish up to 20 inches being sampled. Fish also sampled in gill nets but in very low numbers were smallmouth bass, black crappie, bluegill and rock bass. Rusty crayfish, which are a non-native invasive species, are in high abundance in lakes downstream of Birch Lake. They were first sampled on the far east end of Birch Lake in 2003. Surveys through 2012 showed they had not moved far out of the east end. In this survey only one rusty crayfish was captured but it was caught in a gill net near the middle of the lake. This location is nearly 8 miles away from where they were last sampled with no evidence of them being sampled in between these locations. An additional 41 native crayfish were sampled throughout the entire lake.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, and Bluegill in Birch. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Birch. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Birch has a maximum depth of 25 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Birch is from 2025.

No invasive species are on record for Birch in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.