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

4 Best Shore Lunches in Ontario

A shore lunch is a tasty meal that you won't soon forget. Here are the best most memorable meals we've had lakeside in Ontario!

3 Great Baits For Northern Bass

What should be In your tackle box on your next fishing trip.

Ultimate Drive-to Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Explore Rocky Island Lake part of Zone 10 with Ontario bass fishing in May and June.

The Walking Dead

Learn some interesting Ontario bass fishing tips.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grass Carp

Learn how to detect these fish species and how to keep them out of the Great Lakes.

5 New Products That Are Must Haves For Anglers

If you don't own any of these, you should.

"Bronze Tanks" and Toothy Predators on the Fly

Armed with 7-weights and 9-weights, braving September winds to uncover a fishery where world-class smallmouth and aggressive pike.

A Guide to Arriving Prepared for the Longlac Wilds

From choosing the right fly rod to staying comfortable on the trail, these three essentials ensure your DIY adventure is all about the fishing.

Awesome Algonquin

World Class Brook Trout Fishing in Algonquin Park.

Wild Brook Trout

A Guided Float Trip Down the River

Baptiste Bass

Catching 5- to 6-Pound Smallmouth Bass Each Fishing Season

Pike Aplenty

How to select the right spot to catch pike in late fall fishing in Ontario.

Speck-Tacular

The Dotted Love Affair with Ontario's Brook Trout

Inaugural Fish'n Canada Carp Cup

The Inaugural Canadian Carp Cup was held in Long Sault on the St Lawrence River.

Swim Shiner Swim

What Bait to Use in Cold Water Fishing Conditions

Ladies Walleye Weekend

A 3-day Fishing Adventure on the Bay of Quinte

Witch Bay Camp

Secluded Lake of the Woods Fishing for Walleye and Muskie

Fishing Esnagi Lake

Train-in Fishing at Lodge Eighty Eight

Debunking Muskie Myths

Busting Popular Myths About Ontario's Big Toothy Beasts

Fish on a Fly

Pike and Walleye Fishing on Esnagi Lake