Long

Long is a moderate sized lake (782 acres) located south of Grove City in Meeker County. It has over eight miles of shoreline, with a maximum depth of eleven feet. However, much of the lake is around six feet in depth. The public boat access is located on the northeast shore. Long occasionally suffers partial winterkills of fish during harsh winters, with the latest event occurring in 2023. Fish populations can fluctuate widely depending on severity and frequency of winterkill. Milder winters in recent decades, with decreased winterkill events, have led to increased boom-and-bust angling opportunities at this lake. Northern Pike are the primary management species, while Bluegill, Black Crappie and Yellow Perch are listed as a secondary species in the 2023 lake management plan. Curly-leaf pondweed can form dense surface mats in May and June at Long Lake, making boating difficult. A targeted survey (June trap netting) was conducted at Long on June 9th, 2025, to monitor the fish population. Bluegill and Hybrid Sunfish were stocked in 2025. The best options for anglers at Long Lake are Northern Pike, Black Crappie and Yellow Perch. Maximum pike length was 27.6 inches. Good numbers of Black Crappie were netted with average length being 8.0 inches. Maximum crappie length was 11.0 inches. In addition, a solid number of Yellow Perch were sampled. Approximately 39% of the perch catch was 8 inches or longer with a maximum length of 10.9 inches. Additional fish species captured in the trap nets included Black Bullhead (which dominated the catch), Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish and Hybrid Sunfish. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Over harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Long is a large-sized shallow lake (782 acres) located near Grove City in Meeker County. A small state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is located on the northwest shore. Launching a boat can be difficult during drought years, as was the case in 2021. Long has 8 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 11 feet, but much of the lake is closer to 6 feet in depth. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Long is a class 41 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Washington and Jennie in Meeker County. Curlyleaf pondweed, a submergent aquatic plant, can be abundant in May and June in this shallow lake. Long Lake occasionally suffers from winterkill and fish populations can fluctuate widely depending on the severity of the latest event. The last severe winterkill was in 2014. Northern Pike and Yellow Perch are more tolerant of low winter oxygen levels so the lake is primarily managed for those two species. Northern Pike were abundant in 2021 with fish averaging 23 inches in length and maxing out at 33 inches. Casting and trolling artificial lures should work for pike at Long Lake. Historically, winter clarity can be variable if you are thinking about spearing Northern Pike from a darkhouse at this lake. Decent numbers of Yellow Perch were netted in 2021, but many of the fish were small. However, some of the perch sample was in that coveted 9 to 10 length range. Somewhat unexpected was the very high numbers of Black Crappie and Bluegill in the gill nets. Although many were small, fair numbers of fish nearing sizes acceptable to anglers for harvest (8 to 9 inch crappie and 6 to 7 inch bluegill) were present and growing for both species. Prior to pike and perch management, Long Lake was used as a Walleye rearing pond in 2015 and 2016. Although few fingerlings were produced for statewide stocking purposes in either of those years, enough Walleye survived and grew to eventually spawn a natural year class in 2019. Walleye were abundant in the 2021 gill nets with fish averaging an impressive 19 inches in length. The longest Walleye sampled was 24 inches. Back trolling bottom bouncers with a crawler and a spinner should do the trick in this turbid lake, once the curlyleaf pondweed dies back in July. However, high numbers of Black Bullhead (known to nip off a nightcrawler or two) could be a problem. If so, try trolling shallow running crankbaits. A leech under a slip bobber on a windy shoreline may also put a few "eyes" in the boat. Other species that anglers may encounter include Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Long is a large-sized shallow lake (782 acres) located near Grove City in Meeker County. A small state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is located on the northwest shore. Launching a boat can be difficult during drought years, as was the case in 2021. Long has 8 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 11 feet, but much of the lake is closer to 6 feet in depth. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Long is a class 41 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Washington and Jennie in Meeker County. Curlyleaf pondweed, a submergent aquatic plant, can be abundant in May and June in this shallow lake. Long Lake occasionally suffers from winterkill and fish populations can fluctuate widely depending on the severity of the latest event. The last severe winterkill was in 2014. Northern Pike and Yellow Perch are more tolerant of low winter oxygen levels so the lake is primarily managed for those two species. Northern Pike were abundant in 2021 with fish averaging 23 inches in length and maxing out at 33 inches. Casting and trolling artificial lures should work for pike at Long Lake. Historically, winter clarity can be variable if you are thinking about spearing Northern Pike from a darkhouse at this lake. Decent numbers of Yellow Perch were netted in 2021, but many of the fish were small. However, some of the perch sample was in that coveted 9 to 10 length range. Somewhat unexpected was the very high numbers of Black Crappie and Bluegill in the gill nets. Although many were small, fair numbers of fish nearing sizes acceptable to anglers for harvest (8 to 9 inch crappie and 6 to 7 inch bluegill) were present and growing for both species. Prior to pike and perch management, Long Lake was used as a Walleye rearing pond in 2015 and 2016. Although few fingerlings were produced for statewide stocking purposes in either of those years, enough Walleye survived and grew to eventually spawn a natural year class in 2019. Walleye were abundant in the 2021 gill nets with fish averaging an impressive 19 inches in length. The longest Walleye sampled was 24 inches. Back trolling bottom bouncers with a crawler and a spinner should do the trick in this turbid lake, once the curlyleaf pondweed dies back in July. However, high numbers of Black Bullhead (known to nip off a nightcrawler or two) could be a problem. If so, try trolling shallow running crankbaits. A leech under a slip bobber on a windy shoreline may also put a few "eyes" in the boat. Other species that anglers may encounter include Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, 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 11 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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.