Long Lake Fishing in Otsego County, Michigan

• Overview

  Long Lake lies within the bounds of Otsego County, Michigan. Beyond the shoreline you have pine and birch. About 18 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Gaylord is the closest place, 5.6 miles off. Grand Rapids is the closest city, 147 miles away. Neighbouring water: Apache Lake (0.5 miles), Chain-O-Lakes sits 0.6 miles out, Mallard Lake (0.7 miles), Horseshoe Lake sits 0.7 miles out and Seminole Lake (0.8 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Otsego County cover rock bass, white sucker, largemouth bass and northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Long Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 67°F and January at 17°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Long Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Apache Lake at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Long Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.