Long Lake Fishing Guide, Calhoun County, Michigan

• Overview

  You will find Long Lake in Calhoun County, Michigan. Everything around it is lake country bush. It measures about 37 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.4 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The town to know is Marshall, 5.5 miles out. The big place round here is Lansing, 43 miles distant. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Calhoun County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Long Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 71°F and January near 22°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count the season from break-up, usually late March. On average, late March opens the water and mid December closes it again. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Pine Lake, 0.3 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Long Lake.