Dale Erickson has been fishing Birchwood Lake since 1987, which means he has been doing it longer than I have owned the property. When I first asked him to guide for us in 2010, he said he would think about it and called back three days later. He has guided every summer since. What follows is a mix of what Dale has told me over the years and what I have picked up watching guests come back from morning trips with fish and with stories.
When walleye are most active on Birchwood Lake ¶
Walleye on Birchwood Lake feed most aggressively in low light. Dale launches at 6 a.m. For a reason. The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset are when the fish move into shallower water along the rocky points on the east end of the lake. Midday fishing is possible but slower. If you are fishing on your own from the dock or a canoe, early morning is worth the alarm.
What gear Dale uses and why ¶
Dale fishes with a medium-action spinning rod, 8-pound monofilament, and a jig-and-minnow setup that he has not changed meaningfully since the mid-1990s. He is skeptical of most new lures. He does use a Lindy rig for slower presentations in deeper water in late summer, when the walleye drop down to the thermocline around 18 to 22 feet. His advice to guests: bring one rod, keep it simple, and pay attention to where the fish are rather than what you are throwing at them.
The east end versus the main basin ¶
The east end of Birchwood Lake, past the point where the shoreline bends north, holds the largest fish. The bottom is rocky and irregular, which walleye prefer. The main basin in front of the resort is good for northern pike and occasional walleye, especially in May and early June before the water warms. Dale takes most of his guided trips to the east end. If you are paddling on your own, the east end is about a 25-minute canoe from our dock.
Shore lunch and what it actually involves ¶
Dale's guided half-days include a shore lunch, which means he fillets whatever the group catches, builds a small fire on the gravel bar at the east end, and fries the fish in a cast-iron pan with butter and shore-lunch seasoning he mixes himself. If the fishing is slow, he brings a backup of frozen walleye from a previous trip. Nobody has gone without fish for lunch in sixteen years of guided trips. That is not a guarantee, but it is a reasonable expectation.
Fishing on your own from the dock or a canoe ¶
Cabin guests are welcome to fish from the dock or from one of the canoes at any time. The dock produces northern pike reliably, especially in the morning. Cast toward the weed edge about sixty feet out from the end of the dock. For walleye from a canoe, paddle toward the east end and work the rocky shoreline with a jig. A Minnesota fishing license is required and is not included in the cabin rate. Licenses are available online through the Minnesota DNR or at the hardware store in Ely.
Fishing is not the only reason to come to Birchwood Lake, but it is a good one. If you want to book a morning with Dale, mention it when you reserve your cabin and we will get you on his calendar.