Minnesota · Stearns County
Long Lake Fishing guide
Long Lake covers 487 acres in Stearns County, Minnesota, reaching 35 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.7 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 18 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.4per gill net19"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 40 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 29 fish
2025Lengths measured · 40 fish
2024Lengths measured · 63 fish
2023Lengths measured · 23 fish
2021Northern pikeJust a few4.1per gill net24"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 37 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 37 fish
2024Lengths measured · 101 fish
2018Lengths measured · 41 fish
2013Lengths measured · 28 fish
2003BluegillPresent9.6per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1042 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 752 fish
2025Lengths measured · 86 fish
2024Lengths measured · 204 fish
2021Lengths measured · 287 fish
2018CrappiePresent15.6per gill net8"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 271 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 79 fish
2025Lengths measured · 139 fish
2024Lengths measured · 53 fish
2021Lengths measured · 55 fish
2018Yellow perchExcellent numbers24.9per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 224 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 224 fish
2024Lengths measured · 31 fish
2018Lengths measured · 16 fish
2013Lengths measured · 19 fish
2003Channel catfishExcellent numbers5.8per gill net21"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 52 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 52 fish
2024Lengths measured · 348 fish
2018Lengths measured · 419 fish
2013Lengths measured · 239 fish
2003Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Long Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.7 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 62% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. In 3.7 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. With 62% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20" | — | — |
| 2024 | 28" | 9" | 31" |
| 2023 | 27" | — | — |
| 2021 | 21" | — | — |
| 2019 | 23" | — | — |
| 2018 | 22" | 17" | 38" |
| 2017 | 25" | — | — |
| 2015 | 21" | — | — |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 300,674 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 300,000 fry · 5,300 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 300,000 fry · 684 fingerlings · 219 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A reduced bag limit on sunfish (10 fish daily) was enacted on Long Lake beginning March 1, 2021. Two previous panfish surveys were conducted on Long Lake in 2018 and 2021. A targeted panfish survey was conducted on Long Lake from May 27-30, 2025. Panfish surveys conducted in the spring, prior to when spawning occurs, typically provide a more accurate picture of the panfish abundance and size structure than standard surveys conducted during the summer.
A total of 751 Bluegill were sampled; lengths ranged from 2.2-10.2 inches, with an average length of 7.1 inches. Eighty-seven percent of Bluegill sampled were longer than six inches and 16% were longer than eight inches. The mean length of the ten longest Bluegill sampled was 9.5 inches, exceeding the averages recorded in the 2018 (9.4 inches) and 2021 (8.6 inches) surveys. However, the percentage of Bluegill longer than eight inches (16%) was less than both the 2018 (20%) and 2021 (22%) surveys. Bluegill recruitment in Long Lake is consistent as ten different year classes were present. Bluegill grow quickly, reaching eight inches in five years. On average, Bluegill take ten or more years to reach eight inches in the Sauk Rapids management area.
Read the full DNR narrative
A total of 79 Black Crappie were sampled; lengths ranged from 5.4-12.5 inches, with an average length of 8.6 inches. Sixty-one percent of Black Crappie sampled were greater than eight inches in length. Thirty percent of Black Crappie sampled were greater than ten inches, a slight decrease from the percentages recorded in the 2018 and 2021 surveys, which were both 33%. The mean length of the ten longest Black Crappie sampled was 11.4 inches, greater than the 2018 survey (10.2 inches) but similar to the 2021 survey (11.5 inches). Black Crappie recruitment in Long Lake is consistent as six different year classes were present. Black Crappie grow quickly in Long Lake, surpassing ten inches by age five. On average, Black Crappie take eight years to reach ten inches in the Sauk Rapids management area.
Although Bluegill grow quickly in Long Lake, anglers are still encouraged to limit their harvest of larger Bluegill. Releasing larger fish helps prevent stunted populations.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Long Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Long Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Long Lake, Richmond (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Long Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- North Brown's Lake · 312 ac · 1.1 mi
- Horseshoe Lake · 629 ac · 1.9 mi
- Cedar Island Lake · 986 ac · 2.4 mi
- Big Lake · 458 ac · 2.9 mi
- Becker Lake · 221 ac · 3.2 mi
- Zumwalde Lake · 128 ac · 3.2 mi
- Eden Lake · 278 ac · 3.3 mi
- Bolfing Lake · 109 ac · 3.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Long Lake?
Long Lake reaches 35 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 10 ft; about 62% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Long Lake?
Long Lake covers 487 acres with about 9.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Long Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Long Lake average 3.7 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Long Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, channel catfish.
Is Long Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Long Lake have a public access?
Yes. Long Lake has one public access site: Long Lake, Richmond (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Long Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2015.
When was Long Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Long Lake in 2025, the most recent of 18 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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