Birch Lake @ Timber Bay
Spend your vacation
on one of Minnesota’s
Most Scenic Lakes
Brief
The lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet and an average depth of 25 feet. It is surrounded by forests and rolling hills, which provide a picturesque backdrop for water-based activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including walleye, northern pike, bass, and panfish, which are popular targets for anglers.
Birch Lake is also an important ecological resource, providing habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. The lake is part of the Superior National Forest and is managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to protect and conserve the area's natural resources.
Highlights
Birch Lake is a large, deep lake located in northeastern Minnesota. The lake is situated in St. Louis County and covers an area of approximately 7,073 acres. It is a popular recreational destination, known for its clear waters, scenic beauty, and abundant recreational opportunities
Full Service Marina
Timber Bay Lodge and Houseboats provides the only full-service marina on Birch Lake located at the southwest end of the lake near the town of Babbitt. The Marina offers bait and supplies, gas, ice, and basic supplies.
Fishing
This lake produces trophy fish of all kinds. This diverse fishery includes species like walleye, northern pike, perch, bass, and panfish that all grow big and aggressive
Guides
Timber Bay provides guides who are expert in navigating and getting the most out of your fishing and exploration, including pointers on locations and bait types based on conditions/season.
Most resorts point at the water, sell you a scoop of minnows, and wish you luck.
We don't do that here.
You’re not coming to Birch Lake to burn daylight motoring back and forth to the dock. You’re here to solve one of the world’s most engaging puzzles.
Welcome to the Arena.
Recreational and Sport Fishing
On Target: Your “First Catch”
Don't chase the fish. Let them come to you.
If you’re new to the water, our Playbook along with related audio and visual guides guarantee that first photo-worthy moment. No fancy knots, no jargon—just the secrets to catching dinner (or at least a good story).
We’re here for you, revealing the easiest spots on the lake to drop a line, catch a sunset, and relax.
First Catch: Understanding the Secrets of Birch Lake
The Angler’s Tactical Guide
Stop guessing and start targeting.
This thorough guide ditches the dock talk for hard data—covering seasonal transition points, deep-water structure, and the specific topography holding the lake’s biggest trophies right now.
These are the facts and tactics the uninitiated wish they had, all wrapped up in a technical document exclusively provided to guests of Timber Bay Lodge & Houseboats.
Want more Lake info…?
Common Questions
-
Birch Lake is approximately 7,074 sq acres (28.6 sq km) in size with 90 miles (144.8 km) of shoreline.
-
Walleye are predominant, but a variety of fish including Black Crappie, Bluegill, Burbot, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Yellow Perch can all be found in Birch Lake.
Other fish species in the lake include Bluntnose Minnow, Cisco (Tullibee), Common Shiner, Emerald Shiner, Golden Shiner, Johnny Darter, Logperch, Spottail Shiner, Trout-Perch and White Sucker.
-
Nearby cities and towns include Babbitt, MN and Ely, MN.
-
As a guest of Timber Bay, you can launch directly from our full service marina.
-
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.Item description -
On average, air temperatures during this time of year range from a high around 27°F (-3°C) to a low around 10°F (-12°C). Of course, these are just historical averages, so be prepared for anything Mother Nature throws your way.
-
Enjoy more of the outdoors with a visit to an area state park. There are 2 state parks in the vicinity of Birch Lake.
For more Minnesota State Park information see the State Park Guide.