Cast Away Your Worries: Birchland Cottages, An Ontario Family Fishing Destination

Amazing fishing and non-stop family fun meet classic Northern Ontario cottage comfort, just west of Iron Bridge.
Birchland-Sunset

What a little gem this place is! Birchland Cottages is located just west of the town of Iron Bridge, located on Clear Lake, right off the Trans-Canada Highway. This place truly has it all for a young family to enjoy their stay. There is a beach for swimming where the kids can walk in to swim and have fun with inflatable water toys, including a water trampoline and launch pad! There is a great playground with a climbing wall to get to the fort, swings, slides, sandbox, etc., and if your family wants more, they have complimentary paddle boards, kayaks and a paddle boat. 

Cottage-Sign
Photo credit: Fish TV

Welcome to Birchland Cottages: A Hidden Fishing Gem on Clear Lake, Ontario

We can’t boast about the cottages enough to do them justice. All of the cottages are absolutely stunning with all the comforts of home, including WiFi, giving you everything you’d need for a fantastic stay. Furnished and finished in a 5-star manner, in my opinion. Lakefront views with your own dock to tie up your boat, or get one of the rentals they offer, and you’ll feel like you have your own piece of heaven.

Birchland-Dock Birchland
Photo credits: Fish TV

Fishing Clear Lake: Tips for Great Pike and Bass Action 

Don’t let the size of Clear Lake fool you into thinking the fishing is subpar, because it is absolutely the opposite. The deepest part of Clear Lake is 30 feet, and there are no dead-heads or reefs in the lake, so it is safe for all boaters. Pike and bass are what you’ll be targeting here. Due to the lake being on the smaller size, we decided to use our big motor and idle around the whole lake, just to see what we were dealing with. We found most of the vegetation was in the eastern half of the lake, and where you found weeds, you found pike, and lots of them. We didn’t catch any giants but did catch dozens of nice-sized ones. Spinnerbaits and bladed jigs caught almost all of them.

Jason-at-Birchland
Photo credit: Fish TV

On the western half of the lake, we relied on our electronics to find what depth the baitfish were at and where. Once we figured that out, we had some great smallmouth bass action, with the average being over 3 pounds. We caught most of them using a Crush City Freeloader or Mayor on a VMC Jig head…but don’t forget your favourite topwater!

Leo-and-Jason-at-Birchland Leo-at-Birchland
Photo credits: Fish TV

The beautiful thing about being a fisherman staying at Birchland Cottages is that they have their own boat launch, so if you want to spend a day exploring one of the other lakes nearby, as we did (that’s a story for another day), it’s easily done. If you’re in the area, or looking for a great Ontario cottage resort, you definitely owe it to yourself to check out what Birchland Cottages has to offer. 

You will not be disappointed!

About Jason Greentree

Jason is a multi-species angler with quite a vast resume of accomplishments in the fishing world. He is a multiple bass tournament winner, participated in many television and radio guest spots and a been on the cover of Outdoor Canada magazine. Currently, Jason continues to enjoy the outdoors and shares his fishing tips and tricks with viewers as a host of Fish TV.

Recommended Articles

Going the Extra Mile

How far will you go to find the fish?

Run and Gun Your Way Through Canada

Experience the incredible thrill of musky fishing across Ontario, Canada.

Hard Balling Walleyes

Spring Fishing Tactics to Catch Ontario Walleye

Test Your Fishing Smarts

And get some hot tips on fishing spots.

Muskie Moons

More than just superstition?

Abitibi Walleye Experience

Fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike and Jumbo Perch

Eagle Lake Island Lodge

Your private island escape and off-the-grid adventures await.

Discover the 3 Best Bass Fishing Lakes in Ontario

Check out these lakes for hard-fighting smallmouth bass on your next fishing trip to Northern Ontario.

Fishing Negative Smallmouth

Try these 4 fly fishing techniques to put fish onto your flies.

An Amazing New Technique for Northern Pike

Learn the latest winter Northern pike pattern to hit the Northern Ontario ice scene.

This Smallmouth Bass Paradise Is No Longer A Secret

The Mississagi Valley has opportunities for personal best trophy-sized brown bass.

Fishing for Ontario Wild Brook Trout At Northern Skies Resort

Targeting wild brook in the local rivers, creeks and streams of Algoma Country, Ontario.

Smallmouth Bass With Still Water Fishing and Tours

For the pike and musky anglers, Lake Huron really shines bright.

Lake Temagami Fishing

Sharpshooting Trophy Lake Trout At Loon Lodge.

Mattagami Lake's Perfect Family Fishing Destination

Green Wilderness Lodge offers the rare and perfect blend of relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere and incredible fishing.

Ontario Fly Fishing Hotspots

The Top 10 List from The New Fly Fisher TV Show.

Sliding Into Bass Heaven

Fall is approaching, and they need to start feeding for the winter.

Fantastic Brook Trout

A Train-in Trip to Loch Island Lodge

The Eyes Have it

How to Use a Natural Resource as Bait

Keystone Muskies

Fishing Tips for Targeting Muskie on Cedar Lake