Long Lake Fishing near Ortonville, Michigan

• Overview

  Set in Oakland County, Long Lake is a Michigan water. It stands 955 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 14 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. The whole outline is near 1.1 miles, and most of it is walkable. The closest town, Ortonville, is 2.9 miles away. For a city, Sterling Heights is 26 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work Long Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 70°F and January at 22°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Long Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Launching is at Bald Eagle Lake Boat Launch, about half a mile away. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Wilson Lake is 0.4 miles off. Check the position at Long Lake before loading the car.