Fishing Long Lake

Long Lake's Walleye population is completely self-sustaining with natural reproduction producing strong year classes across 12 age groups, though growth runs 0.6 inches below state average due to population density. Smallmouth Bass offer exceptional fishing with growth rates 3.1 inches above average - the best in the lake. The Northern Pike fishery has exploded, tripling in numbers since 2007 with fish ranging from 11 to 43 inches representing multiple year classes. Yellow Perch, once considered among the area's best, have seen declining growth rates possibly due to competition from the Bluegill population that increased from 98 to 673 fish between surveys. The lake's 90-foot maximum depth creates a thermocline around 42 feet, with oxygen depletion occurring at 39 feet - the shallowest level documented historically. Water clarity has decreased significantly from historical Secchi readings of 50-60 feet to just 9.5 feet in 2017. The heavily developed shoreline with 599 dwellings supports an estimated 8,333 angling trips annually. Sand and gravel shoals drop rapidly to deep muck bottoms, with minimal aquatic vegetation covering only 1.7% of the lake area. The forage base has shifted dramatically from minnows to shiners, providing abundant food for predators. This soft-water to moderately hard-water lake maintains excellent water quality indices in the 90s despite development pressure.