Long Lake is part of the Grand Traverse County watershed system in northwestern Lower Michigan. Yuncker Marine operates nearby, providing boat service and access to the broader Traverse City-area waterway network.
Long Lake freezes in winter and supports ice fishing for panfish and pike. The fall perch bite transitions well into ice season. Always verify current ice thickness locally before venturing out, as conditions vary across the lake.
Can you visit Long Lake's islands?
Long Lake is Grand Traverse County's biggest inland water and Traverse City's backyard giant: 2,800-plus acres of clear, island-studded lake ten minutes west of downtown, with a string of wooded islands — several preserved as parkland — that give it a north-woods feel the address doesn't promise. Taylor Park and the township accesses serve a lake that's both cottage country and public playground.
The fishery matches the water: smallmouth around the islands' rock, largemouth in the bays, cisco in the depths, and panfish everywhere — with enough size and structure that serious Traverse anglers treat it as a destination, not a consolation. Summer wind works the open middle; the island lees keep paddlers honest options all season.