Long

A standard survey was conducted on Long Lake during late June of 2025. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e. standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trapnets and possibly spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). An Index of Biotic Integrity "FIBI" targeted survey for all near shore fish species was last conducted in August of 2020. A Score The Shore survey "STS" was last conducted in 2021. A targeted spring night electrofishing survey was conducted for yearling Walleye on Long Lake during April 23, 2025. Long is a large (1,568 acres), shallow (16 feet maximum depth), aerated, and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Long is part of the Hawk Creek Watershed. The watershed is varied with undeveloped hardwoods, agricultural row crops, grasslands, wetlands, and residential development. There are two public access sites located along the lake (northeast, southwest). Zebra Mussels were first reported in Long Lake during 2022. The water clarity was excellent for Long Lake on June 23, 2025 (secchi=9.0 feet). Water clarity averaged 7.7 feet for May-October of 2025. Blue-green algae blooms are common during the mid-to-late summer periods in Long Lake. The nutrient levels were high for Long Lake during late July of 2021 (total phosphorus=0.096 ppm). Submergent vegetation consists primarily of sago pondweed, coontail and narrow-leaf pondweed group. Filamentous and blue-green algae also occur in Long Lake. Emergent vegetation stands were scattered along the lakeshore. Emergent vegetation consisted primarily of hardstem bulrush and cattail species. There are several mid-water bulrush islands in Long Lake. Shoalwater substrates are primarily sand, gravel, boulder, silt and rubble. A cormorant rookery is located on the large island. There are fourteen small inlets and one large inlet (Ringo Lake Outlet) that enter Long Lake. The Long Lake outlet connects to East Solomon Lake. Water levels were low during the spring, but high by summer and early fall of 2025. The DNR Spicer Area Fisheries Office manages Long Lake for Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Largemouth Bass. Black Crappie abundance was low in 2025 (0.42 fish/trapnet). The Black Crappie historical average catch rate is 2.71 fish/trapnet for Long Lake. The 2025 Black Crappie gillnet catch rate was also low (0.50 fish/gillnet, 7.38 inches average). Abundant numbers of small sized Black Crappie (28.00 fish/trapnet, 6.18 inches average) were captured in 2020 summer survey. Low numbers of Black Crappie (3.08 fish/trapnet, 11.39 inches average) were captured in a 2022 mid-May trapnetting survey. The 2025 Black Crappie average size was large (0.85 pounds and 11.19 inches) from trapnets. The Black Crappie historical average weight is 0.38 pounds from trapnets. Black Crappie growth rates were above normal for ages 1-5. The 2023 Black Crappie year class comprised 57% of the 2025 Black Crappie catch. The largest Black Crappie captured was 13.50 inches in 2025. Bluegill abundance was low in 2025 (1.67 fish/trapnet). The Bluegill historical average catch rate is 2.90 fish/trapnet for Long Lake. Moderate numbers of Bluegill (6.17 fish/trapnet, 6.09 inches average) were captured in the 2020 summer survey. Low numbers of Bluegill (0.58 fish/trapnet, 9.02 inches average) were captured in a 2022 mid-May trapnetting survey. The 2025 Bluegill average size was small (0.16 pounds and 5.20 inches) from trapnets. The Bluegill historical average weight is 0.14 pounds from trapnets. The Bluegill catch rate of quality size (6.00 inches and larger) was low (0.67 fish/trapnet). The largest Bluegill captured was 10.59 inches in 2025 trapnets. Largemouth Bass abundance was high in 2021 post spawn (early June) spring electrofishing survey (60.5 fish/hour, 1.31 pounds average weight). Largemouth Bass abundance was low in 2014 post spawn spring electrofishing survey (12.81 fish/hour, 1.52 pounds average weight). No spring electrofishing survey was conducted for adult Largemouth Bass in 2025. Largemouth Bass were absent in the 2020 summer survey and 2025 gillnets and trapnets. Abundant numbers of yearling or young of year "YOY" Largemouth Bass were captured in 2020 nearshore survey sampling gear (seining and backpack electrofishing). Northern Pike abundance moderate in 2025 (3.25 fish/gillnet), but above the historical average catch rate of 1.56 fish/gillnet for Long Lake. The 2025 Northern Pike average size was moderate (3.27 pounds and 24.15 inches) from gillnets. The Northern Pike historical average weight is 3.44 pounds from gillnets. The 2025 Northern Pike catch rate of quality size (21.00 inches and larger) was moderate (3.00 fish/gillnet). The 2025 Northern Pike catch rate of 26.00 inches and larger was moderate (0.75 fish/gillnet). The largest Northern Pike captured was 34.33 inches. Walleye abundance was high in 2025 (12.00 fish/gillnet). The Walleye historical average catch rate is 17.36 fish/gillnet for Long Lake. The 2025 Walleye average size was large (2.41 pounds and 18.41 inches) from gillnets. The Walleye historical average weight is 2.28 pounds from gillnets. The Walleye catch rate of preferred size (20.00 inches and larger) was high (4.25 fish/gillnet) in 2025. Walleye growth rates were above normal for ages 1-8. The 2025 Walleye summer catch was composed primarily of 2023 (31%), 2022 (23%), 2021 (9%) and 2020 (9%) year classes. Approximately 15% of the Walleye captured were 10 years and older from the 2025 summer catch. Walleye natural reproduction in Long Lake is frequent, but variable for year classes produced based on previous fall and summer surveys. The largest Walleye captured was 27.72 inches in 2025. Walleye fishing success and pressure (early summer and winter) was high during 2022-2024 in Long Lake. Fishing success was low during 2025 compared to 2022-2024. A spring electrofishing survey was conducted to sample Walleye yearlings (2024 year class) in late April of 2025. Low numbers of yearling Walleye (6.00 fish/hour, 8.15 inches average) were captured in the 2025 spring electrofishing survey. Fair numbers of yearling Walleye (18.67 fish/hour, 6.86 inches average) were captured in a late April 2024 Spring electrofishing survey. There were abundant large sized young of year "YOY" Walleye numbers (natural reproduction) captured in 2020 (172.00 YOY/hour, 8.02 inches average) and 2021 (129.75 fish/hour, 7.76 inches average) fall night electrofishing surveys. Fall Walleye YOY abundance (100.00 YOY/hour, 5.42 inches) was high during a 2018 fry stocking year. Walleye fry were recently stocked (1.0-1.7 million fish per stocking) into Long Lake during 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018. No Walleye have been stocked into Long Lake after 2018. A high YOY Walleye fall catch rate due to natural reproduction occurred in 1995 (106.15 YOY/hour, 7.47 inches average length). The highest fall electrofishing catch rate of YOY Walleye during a fry stocking year occurred in 2013 (280.21 YOY/hour, 5.42 inches) for Long Lake. There is potential for Walleye movement between upstream Ringo Lake and Long Lake. Yellow Perch abundance was low in 2025 (6.75 fish/gillnet). The Yellow Perch historical average catch rate is 8.82 fish/gillnet for Long Lake. The 2025 Yellow Perch average size was moderate (0.16 pounds and 6.99 inches) from gillnets. The Yellow Perch historical average weight is 0.17 pounds from gillnets. The 2025 catch rate of quality size (8.00 inches and larger) Yellow Perch was low (1.25 fish/gillnet). The largest Yellow Perch captured was 8.82 inches in 2025. Black Bullhead abundance was low in 2025 (1.00 fish/gillnet). The Black Bullhead historical average catch rate is 92.95 fish/gillnet for Long Lake. Black Bullhead numbers have been generally low since 1991 due to the use of aeration and the establishment of a walleye population in Long Lake. Low numbers of Black Bullhead were caught in the 2025 trapnets (0.67 fish/trapnet). The 2025 Black Bullhead average sizes were large from trapnets (1.55 pounds and 13.59 inches) and gillnets (1.03 pounds and 10.86 inches). The Black Bullhead historical average weights were 0.62 pounds and 0.44 pounds from trapnets and gillnets respectively. The largest Black Bullhead captured was 15.75 inches in 2025. One large sized Brown Bullhead was captured in the 2025 trapnets (16.14 inches). Common Carp abundance was low in 2025 (0.17 fish/trapnet). Low Common Carp numbers were captured in the 2025 gillnets (0.75 fish/gillnet, 9.81 pounds average). The Common Carp historical average catch rate is 1.71 fish/trapnet for Long Lake. The 2025 Common Carp average size was moderate (6.70 pounds and 24.41 inches) from trapnets. The Common Carp historical average weight is 6.87 pounds from trapnets. Current fish management activities on Long Lake include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting the county with the operation of the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, preventing and educating about the spread of invasive species, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Long Lake fishery will be sampled annually in the spring for yearling Walleye by electrofishing and 2030 summer by gillnets and trapnets for all fish species.

A targeted survey of Long Lake was conducted for Yearling Walleye on April 25, 2024. Three stations were sampled for a total of 45 minutes during the 2024 spring night electrofishing survey. The water temperature was 48 F with moderate clarity. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e., standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e., lake survey gillnets, trapnets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Long is a large (286 acres), shallow, aerated and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. The maximum depth is 16 feet. There are two public access sites adjacent to the lake. Blue-green algae blooms are common during the mid to late summer period in Long Lake. Water clarity is usually 3 feet or less during mid-summer. The nutrient levels were moderate for Long Lake during 2014 (total phosphorus=0.045 ppm). Submergent vegetation consists primarily of sago pondweed, coontail and narrow-leaf pondweed group. Filamentous and blue-green algae also occur in Long Lake. Emergent vegetation stands were scattered along the lakeshore. Emergent vegetation consisted primarily of hardstem bulrush and cattail species. There are several mid-water bulrush islands in Long Lake. Shoalwater substrates are primarily sand, gravel, boulder, silt and rubble. A cormorant rookery is located on the large island. There are fourteen small inlets and one large inlet (Ringo Lake Outlet) that enter Long Lake. The Long Lake outlet connects to East Solomon Lake. Water levels were low during the 2024 spring, but normal by the 2024 summer. Fall night electrofishing surveys were previously conducted for Walleye in Long Lake prior to 2022. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers were captured in 2021 (129.75 YOY/hour, 7.76 inches), 2020 (172.00 YOY/hour, 8.02 inches), 2018 (100.00 YOY/hour, 4.75 inches) and 2016 (64.00 YOY/hour, 6.92 inches) fall night electrofishing surveys. The 2020-2021 year classes were from natural reproduction. Yearling Walleye numbers were moderate (9.00 fish/hour, 13.59 inches) in the 2021 fall night electrofishing survey. Long Lake was stocked with Walleye fry in 2018 (1,787,715 fish), 2016 (1,000,000 fish) and 2015 (1,526,921 fish). The Walleye catch rate was 18.67 fish/hour (6.86 inches average) on April 25, 2024. All the Walleye captured in April of 2024 were from the 2023 natural year class. A spring electrofishing survey was conducted in early June of 2021 for both Largemouth Bass and Yearling Walleye. The Walleye catch rate was 73.50 fish/hour in the 2021 June night electrofishing survey. The Walleye average size was approximately 0.37 pounds and 10.59 inches in the 2021 June survey. Most of these fish were probably yearlings from the 2020 natural year class. Early ice out (late March) occurred in 2021 in conjunction with abundant small Yellow Perch present which would explain the rapid growth of the 2020 Walleye year class fish that were sampled in early June of 2021 by electrofishing. The Walleye genetic make-up was comprised of several strains (Pike River, Spicer, Lower Mississippi and Upper Mississippi) from the 2020 fall electrofishing survey catch. Current fish management activities on Long Lake include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting the county with the operation of the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, preventing and educating about the spread of invasive species, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Long Lake fishery may be sampled in the 2025 spring for yearling Walleye and the 2025 summer for all fish species.

A targeted survey was conducted on Long Lake by Willmar, Minnesota in mid-May of 2022 to collect additional data to determine if special regulations are warranted. Twelve standard lake survey trapnets were set at historical stations to target Bluegill and Black Crappie. Special regulations as part of the Quality Sunfish Initiative for several area lakes (Nest, Long (Hawick, Minnesota), Diamond, George and Florida) currently entail reduced bag limits (i.e., 5 or 10 fish) for Bluegill or Black Crappie. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e., standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e., lake survey gillnets, trapnets and possibly spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Trapnet sampling pre-spawn Bluegill during early/mid-May or September is preferred to summer (June-August) netting for regulation evaluation. Long is a large (1,568 acres), shallow (16 feet maximum depth), aerated, and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Water levels were low during 2020-2022. Long is part of the Hawk Creek Watershed. The watershed is varied with undeveloped hardwoods, agricultural row crops, grasslands, wetlands, and residential development. There are two public access sites located along the lake (northeast, southwest). The water clarity was fair for Long Lake on July 6, 2020 (secchi=3.0 feet). Blue-green algae blooms are common during the mid to late summer period in Long Lake. The nutrient levels were moderate for Long Lake during 2014 (total phosphorus=0.045 ppm). Submergent vegetation consists primarily of sago pondweed, coontail and narrow-leaf pondweed group. Filamentous and blue-green algae also occur in Long Lake. Emergent vegetation stands were scattered along the lakeshore. Emergent vegetation consists primarily of hardstem bulrush and cattail species. There are several mid-water bulrush islands in Long Lake. Shoalwater substrates are primarily sand, gravel, boulder, silt and rubble. The DNR Spicer Area Fisheries Office manages Long Lake for Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Largemouth Bass. Walleye angling success was excellent during 2020-2022. Black Crappie abundance was moderate (3.08 fish/trapnet) in mid-May of 2022. The summer (mid-July) historical average catch rate is 2.94 fish/trapnet for Long Lake. The Black Crappie average size was large (0.87 pounds and 11.4 inches) from 2022 mid-May trapnets. The summer historical average weight is 0.33 pounds for trapnets. The 2022 mid-May catch rate of preferred size (10.0 inches plus) Black Crappie was moderate (2.75 fish/trapnet). Black Crappie growth rates were excellent for ages 1-7. The 2018 and 2017 year classes comprised 49% and 46% respectively of the 2022 Black Crappie catch. Black Crappie adults were last stocked during 1993 (2,225 fish, 543 pounds) into Long Lake. Local anglers reported moderate success catching large Black Crappie during the 2022-2023 winter. Bluegill abundance was low (0.58 fish/trapnet) in mid-May of 2022. The summer (late June) historical average catch rate is 3.02 fish/trapnet for Long Lake. The 2022 mid-May Bluegill average size was large (0.63 pounds and 9.0 inches from trapnets). The summer (mid-July) historical Bluegill average weight is 0.14 pounds from trapnets. The 2022 mid-May catch rate of preferred size (8.0 inches plus) Bluegill was low (0.50 fish/trapnet). Bluegill growth rates were excellent for ages 1-6. Three year classes (2016-2018) each comprised 33% respectively of the 2022 Bluegill catch. Bluegill were last stocked during 2010 (1,494 fish, 242 pounds) into Long Lake. Other fish species captured in the 2022 mid-May trapnets included moderate numbers of Common Carp (1.08 fish/trapnet) and Walleye (1.67 fish/trapnet). Low numbers of Black Bullhead (6.00 fish/trapnet), Yellow Bullhead (0.08 fish/trapnet), Golden Shiner (0.08 fish/trapnet), Hybrid Sunfish (0.08 fish/trapnet), Bigmouth Buffalo (0.17 fish/trapnet), and Smallmouth Bass (0.08 fish/trapnet) were also captured in the 2022 mid-May trapnets. Current fish management activities on Long Lake include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting the county with the operation of the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, preventing and educating about the spread of invasive species, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Long Lake fishery may be sampled in the 2023 fall for young of year Walleye and the 2025 summer for all fish species.

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

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Long. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Long has a maximum depth of 16 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Long is from 2025.

Yes — Long has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.