Birch Lake (St. Louis County)
St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69000300
Birch Lake (St. Louis County) has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Birch Lake (St. Louis County) shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 25 ft; surface area 7,074 acres, 1,060 littoral acres, 90.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 5.7 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 5 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- St. Louis County, nearest town Babbitt; DNR lake number (DOW) 69000300.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 9/1/1954 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| gravel ramp | USF | Kawishiwi River Campground Access 10.8 miles south of Ely MN off State Hwy. # 1 - Limited parking by beach. |
| CA | DOT | MNDOT right-of-way access at State Hwy. # 1 bridge 10.6 miles south of Ely MN. - Carry-down access for canoes or shore fishing only. Limited parking. |
| concrete ramp | USF | Birch Lake Campground Access off USFS Road # 429 off State Hwy. # 1, 8 miles south of Ely MN. - Good parking area. |
| asphalt ramp | city | 4 miles NE of Babbitt on Co. Rd. # 623. - Good parking area, Beach next door. |
| gravel ramp | county | 2 miles NW of Babbitt MN off CSAH # 21 and CO. Rd. # 407. - Limited parking and turn around area. Shallow water out from access. |
DNR fish survey, 2025
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tullibee (cisco) | Standard gill nets | 12.00 | 144 | 0.28 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 10.17 | 122 | 0.97 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 4.75 | 57 | 1.27 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 2.33 | 28 | 0.15 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 1.08 | 13 | 4.07 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 0.42 | 5 | 0.14 |
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 4 | 0.35 |
| Smallmouth bass | Standard gill nets | 0.08 | 1 | 0.09 |
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 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…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02; contours are the DNR bathymetric survey. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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