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

• Overview

  McLean County in North Dakota is where Long Lake sits. The water sits 1,909 feet up. It measures about 219 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The perimeter runs near 5.1 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Head to Velva, 24 miles away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Fargo, 199 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for McLean County include bluegill, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass and northern pike. The county list is broader than any single water. Take Long Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 69°F at the top of summer and 8°F at the bottom of winter. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Long Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Crooked Lake is 3.5 miles distant. For Long Lake in particular, ask before you travel.