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

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Long Lake, in Lyon County. Height above sea level is 1,493 feet. Around 181 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. At about 3.2 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. The nearest town is Tracy, 8.7 miles away. It is 65 miles to Sioux Falls, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Open biodiversity records for Lyon County list common carp, walleye and black bullhead. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Long Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 12°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Long Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A nature reserve borders this water, which usually brings restrictions. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Lake of the Hill at 1.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Long Lake should be assumed from this page alone.