Fishing Little Long Lake in Iosco County, Michigan

• Overview

  Little Long Lake is one of the Iosco County waters in Michigan. It stands 896 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 84 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Shoreline comes to about 2.1 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Sand Lake lies 10 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Lansing, 121 miles away. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Little Long Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Iosco County list rock bass, bluegill, pink salmon, largemouth bass and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Take Little Long Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 68°F, with January the cold end at about 18°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Little Long Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Long Lake, 0.9 miles away. Check the position at Little Long Lake before loading the car.