Long

Long Lake is connected to Pickerel and Round Lakes and the three are located three miles west of Clear Lake in western Sherburne County. Haven Township owns the access, which is considered carry-in only. The lake is heavily developed. Management has been limited to periodic netting and the last survey was 1989. No stocking has been done. Curled pondweed was not abundant and grew at or near the surface on 0.5 acres, or less than 1% of the lakes entire surface acres. Twenty species of aquatic plants were noted in Long Lake. Northern milfoil, muskgrass, bushy pondweed, Illinois pondweed and sago pondweed were the most common aquatic plants. Muskgrass was the most abundant submersed aquatic plant and grew out to a depth of 16 feet. Few changes have occurred in the fisheries from 1989 to 2007. Northern pike are still extremely abundant and three times higher than the normal range for this lake class. The average size northern pike is two pounds and anglers can expect to stay busy catching fish at this level of abundance. Forage species such as golden shiners and yellow perch were not abundant. A primary management species for Long Lake is largemouth bass. Long Lake has an excellent bass population with a wide range of sizes available to anglers including fish up to 20 inches. Little is known about the former condition of the largemouth bass population, as 2007 was the first opportunity to sample the lake with night electrofishing. Bluegills are abundant in Long Lake, but the black crappie population is low. Few quality size bluegills can be found in Long Lake. Only eight fish larger than seven inches were captured with trap nets; and the average size was about five inches. The bluegills in Long Lake grow slow and reach seven inches in seven years. Other species sampled during the survey included: brown bullhead, pumpkinseed sunfish, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead and yellow perch. Maintaining the water quality in Long Lake should be a high priority of the county and landowners around the lake. Some effort may be needed to identify any sources of excess phosphorus and plans developed to reduce these sources. Buffer strips along inlets and lakeshore property will help reduce nutrients entering the lake. Also, maintaining adequate septic systems and keeping grass clippings and raked leaves out of the lake will also help reduce the amount of nutrients entering the lake, thus slowing excess algal and vegetation growth.

Long Lake is connected to Pickerel and Round Lakes and the three are located three miles west of the Town of Clear Lake in western Sherburne County. A public access is owned by Haven Township and is considered as carry-in only. A standard survey was completed in 1989 to update fisheries data last collected in 1983. The Northern Pike catch rate in 1989 (29.5/gill net) was more than five times the local median and significantly higher than 1983 (8.8/gill net). The Northern Pike modal length measured females at 17 inches and males at 16 inches. Most of the Northern Pike ranged in length from 14 to 18 inches and were ages four and five. Growth of females was good for ages one to three and slow thereafter. Growth for males was good for the first two years and then slow. No Walleyes have been stocked by the DNR and only two were sampled in the gill nets. Yellow Perch abundance was low with only one fish sampled. The Bluegill catch rate in 1989 (22.5/trap net) decreased from 1983 (47.2/trap net) and was near the local median. Bluegill ranged in length from 3.5 to 7.7 inches with a modal length increment of 6.0 to 6.4 inches. Growth was good for the first two years and then slow thereafter. Six age groups were represented in the Bluegill sample. The Black Bullhead catch rate decreased from 1983, but remained well above expected values for the lake class in high numbers. Black Bullhead had a modal length of 9.0 to 9.4 inches. Yellow Bullhead were first sampled in 1989 and had a modal length of 9.0 to 9.4 inches. Only two Brown Bullhead were sampled, but were in the expected range. Other species sampled included: Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed.

Long Lake is connected to Pickerel and Round Lakes and the three are located three miles west of the Town of Clear Lake in western Sherburne County. A public access is owned by Haven Township and is considered as carry-in only. A standard survey was completed in 1983 to update fisheries data last collected in 1975. The Northern Pike catch rate in 1983 (8.8/gill net) decreased from 1975 (12.0/gill net) and remained within the range of expected values for the lake class. Northern Pike ages two to eight were sampled with a strong 1978 year class. Growth was slow through age six. Largemouth Bass were sampled in average numbers. The Bluegill catch rate in 1989 (47.2/trap net) increased from 1975 (26.5/trap net) and was within the expected range of values for the lake class. The Yellow Perch catch rate in 1989 (9.3/gill net) decreased from 1975 (41.0/gill net) and was about average for abundance. Black Bullhead were not reported in 1975, but were present in high numbers in 1989 (96.2/trap net). Most Black Bullhead were less than six inches in length. White Sucker abundance was about average. Other species sampled included: Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Black Crappie 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 26 feet and a mean depth of 10.2 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Long is from 2007. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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.