Long Lake in Fulton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Long Lake lies within the bounds of Fulton County, Illinois. The setting is lake country bush on every side. Surface area runs to about 20 acres — small enough to read in one session. You are 3.9 miles from Cuba. The nearest city of size is Peoria, 31 miles away. Within a short drive: Mason Lake within 0.2 miles, Stevens Lake 0.3 miles away, Lake Marie within 0.4 miles, Genes Pond 0.4 miles away and Lake Louise within 0.4 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Survey and observation records for Fulton County include common carp, goldfish, white perch and bluegill. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. At Long Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 23°F in January to roughly 75°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid March until roughly late December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to Long Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Mason Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Long Lake if anything is unclear.