Long Lake

How big is Long Lake?

How deep is Long Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Long Lake?

What are the closest cities to Long Lake?

Are there boat launches on Long Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Long Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Long Lake?

Long Lake is a 415-acre lake located in Becker County on the western city limits of Detroit Lakes. Long Lake possesses a heavily developed shoreline and receives a high level of recreational use and angling pressure, particularly during the open water season. Zebra mussels were discovered in the lake in 2020. A standard fisheries survey was completed on Long Lake in June 2021.

Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked into Long Lake biennially (odd-numbered years). Despite stocking, Walleye abundance in Long Lake is low. Walleye sampled in 2021 ranged in length from 15.8 to 21.0 inches, averaging 18.8 inches long.

The average catch rate of Northern Pike in 2021 was about 19 pike per gill net, higher than the last five surveys. Northern Pike sampled in 2021 ranged in length from 4.3 to 27.8 inches, averaging 16.6 inches long. Pike between 14 and 19 inches accounted for 69% of sampled pike, characteristic of a population dominated by small sized fish.

The average number of Bluegill caught in trap nets in 2021 was roughly 19 per net, below the lake's historical average. Despite the decline in numbers caught, size structure of Bluegill has improved in Long Lake in the last two surveys. Sampled Bluegill ranged in length from 3.0 to 9.7 inches, with the average Bluegill measuring 5.7 inches long. Based on aging structures, it requires approximately eight years to grow an eight-inch Bluegill in Long Lake.

Catch rates of Yellow Perch have remained low in Long Lake since surveying began in 1953. Only one Yellow Perch was caught during the 2021 survey. Few Black Crappie have been caught during standard surveys on Long Lake. The 2021 trap net catch rate of Black Crappie was less than one crappie per net, similar to the lake's historic average. A total of 19 Largemouth Bass were caught in trap nets, ranging in length from 4.5 to 18.6 inches and averaging 10.4 inches long.

Additional species sampled in the 2021 survey included Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Rock Bass, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Cisco, and White Sucker. Yellow Bullhead were most abundant in catch among the three bullhead species.

Shoreline owners can help to maintain or improve water quality and fish habitat in Long Lake by maintaining shoreline buffer zones and leaving stands of native aquatic vegetation intact. Anglers and recreationalists can protect Long Lake's fishery by doing their best to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species and by releasing larger fish and harvesting smaller fish for consumption (specifically Northern Pike and Bluegill).

What is the average air temp for Long Lake?

Are there any state parks near Long Lake?