Long Lake Fishing in Barry County, Michigan

• Overview

  Long Lake sits within Barry County in Michigan. The land about it is lake country bush. The water covers some 219 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The perimeter runs near 5.4 miles, so plan the walk before you start. It ranks high for size among our Barry County listings. Some 4.6 miles away sits Stony Point, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Hastings (7.8 miles) and South Gull Lake (11 miles). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. At Long Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 22°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a slipway at Long Lake Boat Launch, roughly half a mile off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Number Twenty-one Lake, 0.7 miles out. Rules at Long Lake are worth checking on the day.