Birch Lake
Bayfield County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2743200
Size
129 acres
Max depth
8 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Cool, dark water color
Water clarity
3.8 ft
Low, measured Aug 2026
A cool-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that stay cooler through summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1990), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
3.8 ft Secchi depthLow
Last measured Aug 23, 2026. 3 readings on record, 2026.
Only a few readings are on record.
Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.
Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station Birch Lake - Deep Hole (44-9-4). Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 21 (Apr 15 to Apr 26)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 27 (Apr 17 to May 2)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 25 (May 19 to May 31)
- June surface69°F, usually 67 to 71°F
- July surface75°F, usually 73 to 76°F
- August surface71°F, usually 70 to 73°F
Mixes regularly through the summer instead of forming a warm top layer.
A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was not calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.
Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1950 to 2006; 10 records
- Blacknose Shiner Notropis heterolepis2002; 3 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1950 to 2006; 11 records
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus2002 to 2006; 3 records
- Central Mudminnow Umbra limi2002; 2 records
- Common Shiner Luxilus cornutus1974; 1 record
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas2002 to 2006; 3 records
- Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum2002; 2 records
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1968 to 2006; 10 records
- Mimic Shiner Notropis volucellus2002; 1 record
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1950 to 2006; 9 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1950 to 2006; 10 records
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris1968 to 2006; 10 records
- Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius1974 to 2006; 2 records
- Walleye Sander vitreus1968 to 2006; 7 records
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii1974 to 2002; 3 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis1974 to 2006; 3 records
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1968 to 2002; 9 records
Recorded in open fish survey and museum records (GBIF). A record shows a fish was found near this lake in that year, not that it is there now, and says nothing about how many. Most coordinates are rounded to about 1 km, so a record is attached only when one lake is the clear match.
Open fish survey and museum records from GBIF; datasets are listed on the sources page. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Bayfield County
- Robinson Lake0.5 miles away
- Bony Lake0.8 miles away
- Upper Eau Claire Lake0.9 miles away
- Pickerel Lake1.2 miles away
- Henderson Lake1.3 miles away
- Shunenberg Lake1.5 miles away
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Fish recordedOpen fish survey and museum records, via GBIF, checked Oct 23, 2026
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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