Fishing Long Lake in McLeod County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Long Lake is listed under McLeod County, Minnesota. It sits at 984 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 48 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. About 1.2 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. The nearest town is Winsted, 2.7 miles away. After that come Howard Lake at 4.1 miles and Waverly at 6.2 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Public occurrence data for McLeod County names largemouth bass, common carp, walleye and northern pike. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Long Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 11°F to 72°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On average, early April opens the water and late November closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to Long Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Butler Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Long Lake before loading the car.