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

• Overview

  Long Lake lies in Hubbard County, in Minnesota. It sits at 1,486 feet above sea level. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Hubbard County list. Park Rapids is the closest place, 18 miles off. Bemidji lies 21 miles off, Menahga another 29 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Reported across Hubbard County: walleye, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Long Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 4°F to 67°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. The season between ice runs from about mid April to mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Long Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Whiting Lake, 0.5 miles away. Ask locally about Long Lake if anything is unclear.