Fishing at Long Lake, Lake County, Illinois

• Overview

  Long Lake lies in Lake County, Illinois. It stands 732 feet above sea level. The water covers around 401 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The edge covers about 4.1 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. It ranks high for size among our Lake County listings. Long Lake lies 0.4 miles from the water. Beyond it, Round Lake Heights at 1.2 miles and Round Lake Beach at 1.9 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Lake County records list bluegill, common carp and green sunfish among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. On Long Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 72°F on average, January about 20°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at late March and the freeze at mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. The season on Long Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Long Lake Car-Top Boat Launch provides a boat ramp about half a mile away. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Wooster Lake, 1.4 miles away. Signs at Long Lake carry more weight than any list.