Long Lake Fishing near Sparta, Michigan

• Overview

  Long Lake is one of the Kent County waters in Michigan. Height above sea level is 774 feet. Around 52 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 1.3 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Kent County list. 4.3 miles away sits Sparta, the nearest town. Grand Rapids is the closest city, 17 miles away. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Kent County include bluegill, rock bass and johnny darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Long Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 21°F to 70°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. The open-water window runs from around early April to about mid December in an average year. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan around that when you fish Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is a car park 170 yards from the bank. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. There are toilets half a mile off. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Ke-wag-a-wan Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Long Lake for certain.