Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 19, 2025
Big Birch Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Birch Lake average 18.08 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 29 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 19, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 17–35 inches. In Todd County, Minnesota, Big Birch Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 12.5 feet of visibility, and there are 5 public boat landings. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Big Birch Lake
18 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Big Birch Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
5 public boat landings are recorded on Big Birch Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Birch Lake average 18.08 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 29 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 19, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 17–35 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Big Birch Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
29 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-19 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 18.08 | 2.22 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.86 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.59 | 0.97 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.20 | 0.15 lb |
| Walleye | 12.30 | 1.68 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Northern Pike
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Walleye
From the 2025-08-19 survey
Big Birch Lake is a 2,107 acre lake located near Grey Eagle, Minnesota. The lake consists of an upper and lower basin, has 15.25 miles of shoreline, a maximum depth of 81 feet, and a littoral area of 642 acres. Primary management species on Big Birch Lake are Northern Pike and Walleye while secondary species include…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Birch Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big BirchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Birch (1058)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Big BirchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big BirchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Big Birch Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Birch Lake average 18.08 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 29 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 19, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 17–35 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 18 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Big Birch Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Big Birch Lake is dated August 19, 2025. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Big Birch Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Big Birch Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Big Birch Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Big Birch Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Big Birch Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Big Birch Lake
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