Long Lost Lake

How big is Long Lost Lake?

How deep is Long Lost Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Long Lost Lake?

Are there boat launches on Long Lost Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Long Lost Lake?

Long Lost Lake is a scenic 493-acre lake located about ten miles west of Itasca State Park in southern Clearwater County. Long Lost Lake has clear water; the Secchi depth was 16.8 feet in August 2010. Bluegill, largemouth bass, and black crappie are the primary management species, with walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike managed as secondary species. Long Lost Lake has an interesting history. Since the early 1990's, the level of the lake has risen twelve feet, and recently has receded by two feet. This has increased the surface area of the lake by approximately 100 acres, flooding lake cabins (some of which are still standing), and creating large amounts of standing timber in deep water. This type of aquatic habitat is unique to natural lakes in northern Minnesota, and is more typical of a flood control reservoir. Another recent change has been the unauthorized introduction of smallmouth bass. These fish were first documented in 1993, and are now well established in Long Lost Lake, making it one of the only lakes in the Bemidji area with a fishable smallmouth bass population.
The bluegill catch rate from the 2010 population assessment (38.5/TN) was nearly twice the median catch rate for class 25 lakes. The population is currently dominated by smaller fish, with no bluegill greater than 7.5 inches in length captured in the assessment. The average size was 0.11 pounds (5.3 inches in length). Growth rates for bluegill in Long Lost Lake are slow. There are good numbers of bluegill from 6.0 to 7.5 inches in length present, and some of these fish will grow to a size preferred by anglers in the near future.
The black crappie catch rate of 0.8/TN was below the median for this lake class (1.5/TN) and similar to the previous assessment in 2005. The largest black crappie captured was 12.2 inches in length. Four age classes of crappie were identified in the catch. Black crappie reproduction can be inconsistent in northern Minnesota Lakes. Habitat for black crappie in Long Lost Lake is abundant, and potential fishing spots are numerous. Fishing with a bobber around the flooded timber can be productive but be prepared to deal with numerous snags.
Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass (LMB and SMB) electrofishing catch rates in the 2010 assessment were good, and substantially higher than historic catch rates from the 1990's. LMB outnumbered SMB in the sample by 4 to 1. LMB up to 16.7 inches and SMB up to 14.8 inches in length were captured. Larger fish were observed but not captured. Given the extensive flooded timber-deep water habitat, it may not be possible to get a truly representative sample of the bass population. Interestingly, bass catch rates in the gill net portion of the 2010 assessment were high, which is not typical for this gear type, and suggests that bass (particularly SMB) in Long Lost Lake are utilizing deep water habitat as some of the gill nets are set in 45 feet of water. Bass anglers should enjoy the scenery and diversity of habitat on Long Lost Lake and have an opportunity for some quality fishing.
Walleye have been sampled in low numbers in the past few assessments. Average size of the walleye catch in 2010 was impressive, with fish up to 29.7 inches in length captured, and a wide range of age classes present in the catch. Walleye utilize deep water habitat in Long Lost Lake. The lake stratifies deeply, with good oxygen levels down to 40+ feet in August of 2010. Catch rates for walleye in Long Lost Lake may not be comparable to the more popular walleye lakes in the area, but the opportunity to catch a truly large walleye exists.

Are there any state parks near Long Lost Lake?