Long Lake Fishing near Grand Rapids, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Cass County entry here is Long Lake, in Minnesota. It lies 1,312 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 112 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. A shoreline of some 2.1 miles keeps the choices simple. For a base, Cohasset sits 15 miles out. For a city, Fargo is 139 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Public occurrence data for Cass County names largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, walleye and northern pike. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Long Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 5°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Long Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Spring Lake is 0.9 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Long Lake.