Birch Lake (Cook County)

Cook County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16024700

DNR records show 10 stocking entries at Birch Lake (Cook County) since 2016, most recently rainbow trout yearlings in 2025 (4,000 fish).

• Birch Lake (Cook County) has 10 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): rainbow trout (10).
• The most-stocked species by count is rainbow trout: 40,032 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 69 ft, mean depth 26 ft; surface area 236 acres, 71 littoral acres, 6.7 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 17.8 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: lake trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: August 21, 2023 (standard survey).
• Cook County, nearest town Grand Marais; DNR lake number (DOW) 16024700.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/5/1982 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2023

Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.

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 addition, there is a small natural population of lake trout that continues to persist despite limited habitat. The 2023 standard survey of Birch Lake was conducted to evaluate survival and growth of stocked rainbow trout. Rainbow trout catches in the 2023 survey gill nets were comparable to the last two surveys (3.83 fish/net) and were slightly above average for similar lakes in the area. Rainbow trout captured ranged from 10.4 - 18.6 inches with most of the fish being about 12 inches long. There were slightly less larger fish in the population than in previous surveys. Aging results indicated that fish from 3 year classes were present in the lake with the oldest being 3 years old. Growth rates for rainbow trout were good. Birch Lake continues to provide good angling opportunities for rainbow trout. Despite marginal temperature-oxygen conditions that provide limited habitat for lake trout in most years, the lake trout population has continued to persist in Birch Lake. The lake trout catch was very low but similar to catches seen in this lake since 2007. The one lake trout taken in the survey was 12 years old and 21.7 inches. Naturally reproducing lake trout populations are unique in Minnesota lakes, anglers targeting lake trout should consider catch and release practices with safe handling procedures. Catches in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets indicated there has been no recovery of the nearshore fish community, which collapsed after smallmouth bass became established in this lake in the mid 2000s. As has been the case in most recent surveys, no minnows were found. There was one small (4.7 inch) smallmouth bass collected in the 2023 survey which is the fewest seen in surveys since they were detected in 2004. Smallmouth bass are likely not abundant enough to provide good angling opportunities. Cook County, Minnesota lakes continue to be susceptible to aquatic invasive species introductions. Invasive species have the potential to significantly alter fish communities and overall lake health. Anglers should clean watercraft and fishing gear, drain all water, and dispose of unused bait in the trash to prevent accidental introductions.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, August 21, 2023.

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