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

• Overview

  Long Lake is set in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. At some 397 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The perimeter runs near 6.2 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Few waters listed in Beltrami County are bigger. The town to know is Bemidji, 11 miles out. Redby lies 24 miles off, Red Lake another 27 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Beltrami County, recorded fish include walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Long Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 3°F in January and 67°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Expect Long Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. 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. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Gallager Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Long Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.