Long Lake in Blue Earth County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Long Lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. The bank is 1,014 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 22 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Blue Earth County are larger. The closest town, Madison Lake, is 2.2 miles away. Further out sit Eagle Lake (4.2 miles) and Saint Peter (8.8 miles). A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. 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. Survey and observation records for Blue Earth County include common carp, bluegill, yellow perch, black bullhead and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Long Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 12°F to 72°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near early December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Long Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Ballantyne Lake, 1.1 miles away. Treat access at Long Lake as something to verify.