Fishing Long Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Long Lake belongs to Chisago County. Beyond the shoreline you have mixed forest. At 17 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Chisago County standards. Head to Branch, 5 miles away, for anything you forgot. Saint Paul is the closest city, 39 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Chisago County records list largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill, yellow perch and black crappie among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Long Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 11°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. The season between ice runs from about early April to late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That shapes the year on Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Vibo Lake, 2.1 miles away. Signs at Long Lake carry more weight than any list.