Long Lake Fishing near Grant, Minnesota

• Overview

  Long Lake is a Washington County water, in Minnesota. The surface lies 958 feet up. Roughly 42 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. 3.4 miles away sits Grant, the nearest town. Further out sit Dellwood (3.8 miles) and Hugo (3.9 miles). A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. 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. Records held for Washington County cover bluegill, largemouth bass, brown trout and northern pike. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Long Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 72°F in July and bottoms out near 12°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Round Lake is 0.7 miles off. For Long Lake in particular, ask before you travel.