Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 21, 2023
Birch Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Birch Lake average 2.32 rainbow trout per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–18 inches. In Cook County, Minnesota, Birch Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 18.0 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Birch Lake
3 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 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
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Birch Lake average 2.32 rainbow trout per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Birch Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 335.62 | — |
| White Sucker | 3.00 | 1.89 lb |
| Rainbow Trout | 2.32 | 1.47 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.
White Sucker
Rainbow Trout
From the 2023-08-21 survey
Birch Lake is a 236-acre lake located 34 miles north of Grand Marais and public access is through a carry-in access along the south shore. Rainbow trout are the primary management species with yearlings stocked every year since 2016. Brook trout were last stocked in 2015 and were not captured in the 2023 survey. In…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Birch Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BirchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BirchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BirchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Birch Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Birch Lake average 2.32 rainbow trout per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 10–18 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 3 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 Birch Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Birch Lake is dated August 21, 2023. 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 Birch Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for 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 Birch Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Birch Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 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 Birch Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Birch Lake
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