Fishing at Long Lake, Cass County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Long Lake lies in Cass County, Minnesota. The bank is 1,427 feet above sea level. Around 134 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 2.5 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Supplies mean a trip to Pequot Lakes, 21 miles off. The nearest city of size is Fargo, 104 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Cass County: largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, walleye and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Long Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 6°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Time your trip to Long Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Deer Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Long Lake as something to verify.