Long Lake in Carlton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Long Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,270 feet. Small at around 17 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Carlton County are larger. Nearest place of any size is Moose Lake, 18 miles away. It is 118 miles to Minneapolis, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Carlton County cover bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Long Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 67°F on average, January about 7°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Long Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Woodbury Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Long Lake carry more weight than any list.