Long

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Long Lake was conducted on July 21, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine were completed at ten sampling stations. Nearshore sampling captured twenty species of fish including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance. A summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff on July 25-27, 2022. Nine nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured nine species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a July 2020 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Long Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Long Lake was conducted on June 21, 2021 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten sampling stations. A 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at four stations where soft sediments and deep water prevented the use of a 50-foot seine. Nearshore sampling captured 14 species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass) and no species that are classified as tolerant of disturbance. The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a July 2020 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Black Bullhead). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey indicates Long Lake is healthy as indicated by an exceptionally high FIBI score, well above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Long Lake (DOW 11-0480, Lake Class 23) is a 278-acre lake about one mile south of the City of Walker, MN. Long Lake has 4.08 miles of shoreline with a maximum depth of 80 feet and 81 littoral acres. A US Forest Service public access is located on the south end of the lake. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Long Lake is in Lake Class 23; lakes in this class are generally very deep and very clear. Other area lakes in this class include Jack, Baby, Mann, Deep Portage, Mule, Grave, and Ponto. The lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Black Crappie and secondarily for Bluegill, Cisco, and Muskellunge. However, no Muskellunge have ever been sampled in Long Lake, and the few reported by anglers could have been remnant migrants from Leech Lake prior to barrier construction that limited fish passage. Other population assessments or surveys were completed in 1954, 1978, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2013. A navigable channel on the north end of Long Lake provides boat access to May Lake. Northern Pike numbers were similar what has been seen in recent surveys in this lake with 11 fish per net caught exceeding the management goal of 8 to 10 fish per net. In the 2020 survey Northern Pike ranged in length from 13 to 31 inches with an average length of 21 inches. Largemouth Bass catch rates were two fish per gill net and under one fish per trap net, comparable to recent surveys in this lake. Long-range management goals are assessed using spring electrofishing, which was not conducted in 2020. The Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 6 to 13 inches with an average length of nine inches. Black Crappie were caught at the highest rate in survey history in both trap nets (3 fish per net) and gill nets (4 fish per net), exceeding the management goals of at least one fish per trap net and one fish per gill net. Black Crappie ranged in length from 5 to 11 inches and averaged seven inches. Bluegill were caught at a rate of 11 fish per trap net, which met the management goal range of 10 to 20 Bluegill per trap net. Bluegill ranged in length ranged from 3 to 8 inches with an average of almost five inches. Tullibee (Cisco) were sampled at a rate of over seven fish per net, higher than the past five surveys in this lake with lengths ranging from 7 to 13 inches with an average of nine inches. The Tullibee (Cisco) catch met the management goal of 5 to 10 fish per gill net. Tullibee (Cisco) can provide important forage for larger predator fish in addition to offering an angling opportunity. Yellow Perch numbers were low compared to similar lakes, comparable to recent surveys in this lake. Other fish species that anglers can expect to encounter include, Yellow Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed and Rock Bass. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently, no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Long Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Hybrid Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Walleye in Long. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Long. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Long has a maximum depth of 80 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Long is from 2022.

No invasive species are on record for Long in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.