Minnesota · Todd County
Long Lake Fishing guide
Long Lake is a 399-acre lake in Todd County, Minnesota, reaching 63 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 10.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Just a few0.9per gill net23"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 44 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 35 fish
2023Lengths measured · 9 fish
2022Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 16 fish
2019Lengths measured · 43 fish
2016Largemouth bassGood numbers59.2per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 117 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 46 fish
2023Lengths measured · 71 fish
2022Lengths measured · 7 fish
2019Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 92 fish
2016Northern pikeOne of the best around16.3per gill net22"Typical37"Biggest
Lengths measured · 281 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 134 fish
2023Lengths measured · 147 fish
2022Lengths measured · 131 fish
2019Lengths measured · 102 fish
2016BluegillPresent10.6per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1107 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 633 fish
2023Lengths measured · 474 fish
2022Lengths measured · 136 fish
2019Lengths measured · 1166 fish
2016CrappiePresent1.1per gill net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 58 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023Lengths measured · 22 fish
2023Lengths measured · 36 fish
2022Lengths measured · 88 fish
2019Lengths measured · 168 fish
2016Yellow perchFair numbers3.7per gill net5"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 33 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 33 fish
2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2019Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 134 fish
2016Lengths measured · 4 fish
2014Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassGood numbers1.2per gill net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2022Lengths measured · 76 fish
2016Lengths measured · 16 fish
2010Lengths measured · 16 fish
2004Rates 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
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 10.4 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 63 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 10.4 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 63 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 37" | 18" | 30" |
| 2022 | 34" | 19" | 27" |
| 2019 | 31" | 17" | 28" |
| 2016 | 35" | 18" | 25" |
| 2014 | 33" | 19" | 28" |
| 2010 | 34" | 19" | 28" |
| 2008 | 33" | 19" | 28" |
| 2004 | 36" | 18" | 26" |
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:
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,400 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 200,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 2,720 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,896 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 200,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 611 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 105,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 4,000 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Long Lake on August 15th, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 47.9 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 20.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 21.8 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 1.8 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present but marginal for Cisco.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 20.1 degrees C (68.2 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were present but marginal for Cisco at the time of the survey as the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 1993 and 2006 indicate unsuitable oxythermal habitat across both years, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2006 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 0 feet thick. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
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 (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Long Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Big Swan Lake · 947 ac · 1.4 mi
- Bass Lake · 123 ac · 1.5 mi
- Moose Lake · 131 ac · 1.6 mi
- Buck Lake · 61 ac · 1.7 mi
- Lady Lake · 177 ac · 2.7 mi
- Mons Lake · 95 ac · 2.7 mi
- Twin Lake · 121 ac · 3.2 mi
- Little Swan Lake · 164 ac · 3.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Long Lake?
Long Lake reaches 63 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 40 ft; about 20% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Long Lake?
Long Lake covers 399 acres with about 4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Long Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Long Lake average 10.4 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Long Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Long Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Long Lake have a public access?
Yes. Long Lake has one public access site: Long Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Long Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 37"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2004.
When was Long Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Long Lake in 2024, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Long Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Long Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report