Big Long Lake Fishing in Osceola County, Michigan

• Overview

  Big Long Lake belongs to Osceola County, Michigan. Elevation runs to 1,306 feet. It measures about 56 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 2.1 miles keeps the choices simple. The nearest town is Evart, 7.4 miles away. Reed City lies 14 miles off, Cadillac another 18 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Big Long Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Osceola County include bluegill, largemouth bass, pink salmon and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Big Long Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 67°F and January reads 18°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Big Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Dollar Lake is 0.8 miles off. Rules at Big Long Lake are worth checking on the day.