Fishing at Long Lake, Spokane County, Washington

• Overview

  Long Lake sits in Spokane County, out in Washington. Farm and woodlot runs right down to the water. At about 171 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The margin runs to about 3.9 miles in total. It ranks high for size among our Spokane County listings. For a base, Cheney sits 2.9 miles out. Spokane is the closest city, 17 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name largemouth bass, yellow perch and pumpkinseed. The county list is broader than any single water. On Long Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 28°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Anyone fishing Long Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Cossalman Lake, 0.9 miles out. Where Long Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.