Long Lake

How big is Long Lake?

How deep is Long Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Long Lake?

What are the closest cities to Long Lake?

Are there boat launches on Long Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Long Lake?

Long is a large-sized shallow lake (782 acres) located near Grove City in Meeker County. A small state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is located on the northwest shore. Launching a boat can be difficult during drought years, as was the case in 2021. Long has 8 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 11 feet, but much of the lake is closer to 6 feet in depth. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Long is a class 41 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Washington and Jennie in Meeker County. Curlyleaf pondweed, a submergent aquatic plant, can be abundant in May and June in this shallow lake.

Long Lake occasionally suffers from winterkill and fish populations can fluctuate widely depending on the severity of the latest event. The last severe winterkill was in 2014. Northern Pike and Yellow Perch are more tolerant of low winter oxygen levels so the lake is primarily managed for those two species. Northern Pike were abundant in 2021 with fish averaging 23 inches in length and maxing out at 33 inches. Casting and trolling artificial lures should work for pike at Long Lake. Historically, winter clarity can be variable if you are thinking about spearing Northern Pike from a darkhouse at this lake. Decent numbers of Yellow Perch were netted in 2021, but many of the fish were small. However, some of the perch sample was in that coveted 9 to 10 length range. Somewhat unexpected was the very high numbers of Black Crappie and Bluegill in the gill nets. Although many were small, fair numbers of fish nearing sizes acceptable to anglers for harvest (8 to 9 inch crappie and 6 to 7 inch bluegill) were present and growing for both species. Prior to pike and perch management, Long Lake was used as a Walleye rearing pond in 2015 and 2016. Although few fingerlings were produced for statewide stocking purposes in either of those years, enough Walleye survived and grew to eventually spawn a natural year class in 2019. Walleye were abundant in the 2021 gill nets with fish averaging an impressive 19 inches in length. The longest Walleye sampled was 24 inches. Back trolling bottom bouncers with a crawler and a spinner should do the trick in this turbid lake, once the curlyleaf pondweed dies back in July. However, high numbers of Black Bullhead (known to nip off a nightcrawler or two) could be a problem. If so, try trolling shallow running crankbaits. A leech under a slip bobber on a windy shoreline may also put a few "eyes" in the boat.

Other species that anglers may encounter include Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead.

People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

What is the average air temp for Long Lake?

Are there any state parks near Long Lake?