Long Lake Fishing near Scandia, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Long Lake belongs to Washington County. This is pine and birch ground. At about 32 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. On size it sits at the modest end of our Washington County list. Scandia lies 2 miles from the water. Further out sit Osceola (8.6 miles) and Forest Lake (8.8 miles). You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Washington County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, brown trout and northern pike among the fish reported. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Long Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 12°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Long Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Hay Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Ask locally about Long Lake if anything is unclear.