Topics

Timber Bay Lodge is a good spot, I always go there when I go to birch lake.

Launched out of Copas today. Water is really low. And the wind was really blowing upstream (what else is new? 🙄) I had to run my outboard in reverse just to drift downstream in some stretches. Fishing was really slow. Caught 2 little smallies and 32” and 29” pike. Pike are sitting right on the bottom where cold springs are entering. Tried trolling the main channel, but didn’t catch anything.  

So I figured I'd leave a report. I got up Saturday night. Problem is..... not much of a report other than in 10 years fishing this lake its the worst 2 days fishing ive ever had. I did get 2 16"last evening. But both mornings? Ive never fished so many thick pods of fish that would not go on anything. This afternoon I even tied walleye flies to try on a wolf river rig in the hopes of imitating bugs. Picture enclosed. I'll be up through the weekend so hopefully we get far enough away from the hatches that the bite gets going again. 

If I were Moosebirds, I would move the ice cream cart outside like the beer carts at a nightclub. 80% of their traffic has to be ice cream related so they could sell it outside. If they have to keep it inside they could have someone outside taking orders/collecting cash and another worker bringing it out so that you don't have to crowd everyone inside. Heck, they could have a dockside ice cream cart filled with icecream sandwiches for grab and go!

that's one of the other lakes!!  LOL!!!!!

I honestly have not even attempted to fish the chain in the recent weeks.  This past week my FIL did go on Tuesday to Trout and found a few willing whitefish for the smoker again but he said it got too hot to fish.  On Thursday and Saturday we went to lake further north and found a few willing crappies to keep us active but could not find any walleyes.

Awesome report. Thanks @Joe

I've only fished Birch a couple of times so I'm no expert.  My best walleye on Birch is this 28"er caught on the west end of the lake in mid September .  Caught this one and several eaters trolling Rapala deep taildancers in about 25 FOW.  Since you are new to the lake I recommend hiring a guide for a half day.  If you want the name of a good one you can pm me.

On the south end...  Great walleye fishing this week.  Lots of limits, plenty of larger slot fish (19.5" - 28") and trophy walleyes (over 28").  The MTT Photo and Release Walleye Tournament winners had over a 9 lb average each for 5 fish both days of the tournament.  Lots of big walleyes in the lake.  Different parts of the lake have different things happening.  In some areas, the mayfly hatch was over.  In other areas, it was just firing up.  Fishing was better where the hatch was not in full force.    The go to presentations are spinners with crawlers or trolling crankbaits.  Nice schools of eaters on the south shore and up north around Garden Island in 10 -15' of water.  More and more walleyes also staged over deep mud in 30 - 34'.  Hammered gold with glow white and gold with glow red strong colors.       On the Rainy River...   Sturgeon anglers catching fish with the evening bite the best.  Fish holes in the river with a 3 ounce no roll sinker and sturgeon rig loaded with crawlers and/or frozen shiners.   Nice smallies in rocky areas.  Pike are also active cruising bays, weed edges and current breaks.  Walleyes out on flats and can be caught with crawler harnesses or trolling crankbaits. Up at the NW Angle...  Until the US / Canada border opens, guests can travel across the lake staying and fishing in MN waters.  There are shuttle services available and fishing for multi species has been excellent.  Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for options.   Fishing has been awesome up at the Angle.  Schools of walleyes on structure, over sand and on mud.  Nice walleyes 8 - 17' on the sand or 25 - 28' around structure.  Big numbers of eaters being caught.  The best presentation continues to be drifting and trolling spinners with a crawler or a minnow.  Pike and smallmouth bass are active in numerous weedy bays. 

Yeah, wife took the grandkids to moosebirds for ice cream and was not impressed with the service or the covid precautions.