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 Lake is a small, 120 acre lake with a maximum depth of 35 feet and good water clarity. The secchi disk reading of 10.5 feet at the end of August is better than average for a lake in central Minnesota. The lake has abundant wild rice which forms a thick band around much of the lake. There is a township owned public access on the east side. Parking is limited as the access is narrow and the ramp is sand and gravel. Much of the lake is developed except for the southwest side and north end which are mostly marsh. Primary management species are largemouth bass and northern pike.
The bass population in the lake has remained relatively stable over the years. The average size in spring night electrofishing was about 12 inches or 1 pound with bass up to 17 inches measured. Northern pike abundance has increased since the last survey and the population is dominated by smaller fish as few were more than 24 inches in length. High pike numbers can be detrimental to the entire fish community and especially walleye management. Anglers should consider keeping northern pike less than 24 inches as a harvestable surplus of small fish exists.
A spring assessment in 2012 targeted the panfish in the lake since they provide an important fishery. These spring nettings tend to exhibit a better picture of the adult bluegill population than the summer surveys do. Most of the bluegill caught in the spring assessment were between 6.5 and 7.5 inches although a few over 8 inches were measured. Long Lake appears to have a decent black crappie population as fish exceeding 9 inches were common in the spring sampling efforts. Three other species of panfish in the lake include green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, and pumpkinseed.
Despite stocking by the Long Lake Association, the walleye population has shown no improvement in abundance. For anglers lucky enough to hook into a walleye, chances are that it will be a nice one as two of three fish caught in the survey were over 18 inches. Yellow perch have also been stocked by both the DNR and lake association in an attempt to increase abundance of the perch which could improve northern pike size and survival of the walleye. This strategy has not worked either.
Other species found in the lake include yellow bullhead and bowfin or dogfish. Bowfin can provide quite a fight for an angler and are known to be efficient predators on small bluegills. Common carp were also observed during the spring electrofishing for largemouth bass.
Protecting Long Lake's extensive emergent vegetation beds should be a priority of the lake association and lakeshore owners. Not only does the vegetation provide valuable habitat for the fish and wildlife, it also removes excess nutrients from the water and protects the shoreline from erosion. Lakeshore owners are encouraged to keep grass clippings and raked leaves out of the water to reduce nutrients entering the lake. Poorly maintained septic systems can be a significant source of nutrients to a lake leading to algae blooms and excessive weed growth. Anglers are encouraged to practice selective harvest and return the larger fish of each species to the water to achieve a more balanced fish community. Harvesting small pike can reduce predation on the yellow perch, bass, and juvenile walleye, improving survival of those species.

What is the average air temp for Long Lake?

Are there any state parks near Long Lake?