Birch Lake

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Waterbody Regulations

• Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat.

Special Species Regulations

• Smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only)
• Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length is 15”, but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20” to 24” may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24” is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3
• Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25
• Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
• Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
• Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
• Largemouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
• Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
• Rough fish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
• Round goby: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Muskellunge and hybrids: May 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1
• Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
• Bluegill: See Panfish.
• White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
• Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
• Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
• Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
• Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
• Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
• Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
• Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
• Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
• Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
• Crappies: See Panfish.
• Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: June 21, 2025 to March 1, 2026: The minimum length limit is 14” and the daily bag limit is 5
• Channel catfish: See Catfish.
• Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
• Lake sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.