Long

Long Lake is a 756-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in west-central Otter Tail County approximately nine miles north of Fergus Falls, MN. Long Lake is located within the Otter Tail River Watershed. An inlet is located along the east shoreline and an outlet dam is located along the northwest shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth of Long Lake is 73 feet; however, 40% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2023 survey was 10.4 feet. Previous secchi disk readings ranged from 5.6 to 8.3 feet. The western portion of Long Lake has been extensively developed. Homes and cottages compose the majority of the development. A large resort and campground complex is also located along the western shoreline. A DNR owned concrete public access is located off of County Road 27 along the southwest shoreline. The shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Large stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are prevalent throughout the eastern portion of the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. A special gillnetting survey was conducted to analyze the Walleye and Northern Pike populations Walleye abundance in the two most recent surveys is the highest recorded for this lake. Age data indicate that the 2020 and 2021 year classes are strong and should provide good Walleye angling in the future. Walleyes ranged in length from 7.5 to 26.5 inches with an average length and weight of 15.8 inches and 1.5 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 15.6 inches at four years of age. Northern Pike have historically been very abundant. Age data indicate that reproduction is consistently good. Northern Pike ranged in length from 17.4 to 31.1 inches with an average length and weight of 22.5 inches and 2.5 pounds. Northern Pike attain an average length of 25.3 inches at five years of age. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future. Long Lake was listed as infested with zebra mussels in 2018. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. The non-native fish species can potentially harm water quality, water recreation, aquatic habitat, native species, and fish populations. Anglers can help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species by following watercraft transportation laws.

Long Lake is a 756-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in west-central Otter Tail County approximately nine miles north of Fergus Falls, MN. Long Lake is located within the Otter Tail River Watershed. An inlet is located along the east shoreline and an outlet dam is located along the northwest shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth of Long Lake is 73 feet; however, 40% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disk reading was 8.3 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 5.6 to 8.0 feet. The western portion of Long Lake has been extensively developed. Homes and cottages compose the majority of the development. A DNR owned concrete public access is located off County Road 27 along the southwest shoreline of the lake. The shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Large stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are prevalent throughout the eastern portion of the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Long Lake can be ecologically classified as a Bass-Panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill are the dominant gamefish species in the lake. Suitable spawning habitat for these species exists throughout the lake. Walleye are also a primary management specie. Walleye abundance is the highest recorded for this lake. Walleyes ranged in length from 7.2 to 27.7 inches with an average length and weight of 14.9 inches and 1.3 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 14.7 inches at four years of age. Northern Pike have historically been very abundant. Age data indicate that reproduction is consistently good. Northern Pike size structure has consistently been poor. Pike ranged in length from 15.0 to 34.7 inches with an average length and weight of 20.9 inches and 2.0 pounds. Northern pike growth is slow; pike attain an average length of 22.7 inches at five years of age. A high-density Largemouth Bass population exists. Bass ranged in length from 5.9 to 14.7 inches. Age data indicated that Largemouth Bass reproduction is consistently good. Bass attain an average length of 12.8 inches at five years of age. Bluegill abundance has historically been high and reproduction has consistently been good. Twenty percent of the Bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 6.7 inches at six years of age. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future.

Long Lake is a 756-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in west-central Otter Tail County approximately nine miles north of Fergus Falls, MN. Long Lake is located within the Otter Tail River Watershed. An inlet is located along the east shoreline and an outlet dam is located along the northwest shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth of Long Lake is 73 feet; however, 40% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2007 survey was 7.4 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 5.6 to 8.0 feet. The western end of Long Lake has been extensively developed. Homes and cottages compose the majority of the development. A DNR owned concrete public access is located off County Road 27 along the southwest shoreline of the lake. The shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Large stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are prevalent in the eastern portion of the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Long Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill are the dominant gamefish species in the lake. Suitable spawning habitat for these species exists throughout the lake. Walleye are also a primary management species. The DNR stocks walleye fingerlings on a biennial basis. Age data indicate that recruitment of walleye in both stocked and non-stocked years is limited. Predation by high-density northern pike and largemouth bass populations is most likely limiting survival of stocked and naturally produced walleyes. Large walleye fingerlings or carry-over fish should be stocked in an attempt to increase survival. Walleye attain an average length of 14.8 inches at four years of age. A high-density northern pike population exists. Northern pike have historically been very abundant. Age data indicate that reproduction is consistently good. Northern pike size structure has consistently been poor. Pike ranged in length from 14.6 to 28.0 inches with an average length and weight of 19.5 inches and 1.5 pounds. Northern pike growth is slow; pike attain an average length of 19.6 inches at four years of age. Data from a spring electrofishing assessment indicate that largemouth bass are also very abundant. Bass reproduction is also consistently good. Bass ranged in length from 5.8 to 17.2 inches with an average length and weight of 11.9 inches and 1.0 pounds. Largemouth bass growth is slow; bass attain an average length of 11.3 inches at four years of age. The black crappie and bluegill populations are abundant. Black crappie sampled in the electrofishing assessment ranged in length from 6.7 to 12.5 inches with an average length and weight of 10.5 inches and 0.7 pounds. The 2001 year class is strong and should provide good crappie angling for several years. Black crappie reach an average length of 8.6 inches at four years of age. Bluegill abundance has historically been high and reproduction has consistently been good. Nine percent of the bluegill sample was 7.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 6.7 inches at seven years of age. Anglers can also maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, Walleye, Northern Pike, and Rock Bass 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 73 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Long is from 2023.

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