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

Fly Fishing The Nipigon River: What To Bring

These tips will make your trip to these fabled Ontario waters more enjoyable.

Smallmouth & Largemouth at Chaudière Lodge

A nostalgic fishing trip on the French River & Lake Nipissing.

Your Lake Nipissing Getaway Awaits

A resort located just 3 hours north of the GTA with cottages, a sandy beach, and Lake Nipissing’s most aggressive spring walleye.

World-Class Fishing and Wild Wonders of Timmins

Where trophy walleye are found within city limits and wilderness adventures include sleeping with the wolves.

5 Travel Essentials When Fishing In Ontario

Packing up for your next Ontario fishing adventure starts with 5 easy tips and tricks.

Heat Wave? Cold Front? No Problem.

Learn how weather patterns can affect fishing techniques and strategies.

Fly Fishing for Bass

Northern Ontario is the destination for incredible bass fishing.

River Run Walleye

The Walleye Fishing Adventures Abound in Ontario's Algoma Country

Beating the Blues

How to Combat the Ice Fishing Doldrums of February

Agich's Kaby Kabins

Fly-in for Amazing Black Bear Hunting and Fishing

Winter Fish Scents

How to Use Fish Scents When Ice Fishing

Weather or Not

Ice Conditions for Lake Trout Has Never Been Better in Northern Ontario

Wilderness WAlleye

Fishing Jumbo Perch, Walleye and Pike at Kanipahow Resort

Elmhirst's Resort

Outstanding Vacations for the Whole Family

Hawk Lake Lodge

A Father & Son Fishing Trip in Northern Ontario

Tamarack Muskies

Fishing Musky on Lake of the Woods in Ontario

Delawana Resort

Bass Fishing on Southern Georgian Bay

A Shore Thing

Landing a Dozen Walleye in Rapid Succession

Summer Smallmouth

Bass Techniques to Help You Catch a Trophy

Baits for Brookies

Using Lipless Rattle Baits for Brook Trout