Fishing Long Lake in Todd County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Todd County, Minnesota, this is Long Lake. The setting is lake country bush on every side. The water covers some 145 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline length is close to 3.6 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. The nearest place of any size is Sauk Centre, 5.2 miles away. Minneapolis is the closest city, 97 miles away. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Published depth figures reach 41 feet at the lowest point. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Long Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 9°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Deer Lake, 1.2 miles out. Confirm access to Long Lake locally before you travel.