Long

Long Lake is a 92-acre lake located five miles northeast of the City of Melrose. The lake is moderately productive and has a maximum depth of 65 feet. The watershed is 4,325 acres and consists primarily of cultivated crops (67%). Water clarity is moderately poor with a Secchi depth reading of 3.7 feet in June. Additionally, the University of Minnesota has documented a seven-year average Secchi depth of 1.9 feet in June. Dissolved oxygen supported fish up to 23 feet, an increase from the 2012 survey (17 feet). There is a singular DNR owned public access located on the southwest end of the lake. A standard survey was conducted in 2025 to update information last collected in 2012. Anglers can expect quality fishing for Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and panfish. Largemouth Bass were sampled via daytime electrofishing on May 19, 2025. A total of 98 bass were sampled in 1.88 hours (52/hour), an increase from the 2012 survey (14/hour). Bass sampled ranged in length from 5.8-20 inches, with a mean length and weight of 13.8 inches and 1.6 pounds. Seventy-nine percent of bass sampled were 12 inches or longer and 33% were 15 inches or longer. Northern Pike numbers (4.2/gill net) were less than both the 2012 survey (7/gill net) and the historical average (5.8/gill net). Catch rates were within the expected values for similar lakes. Sampled pike ranged in length from 17.2-33.9 inches, with a mean length and weight of 23.8 inches and 3.1 pounds. Only 20 pike were sampled during the survey, of which 25% were 16 inches or longer and 10% were 30 inches or longer. The Bluegill catch (29.6/trap net) was similar to both the 2012 survey (32.4/net) and the historical average (34/trap net). Catch rates were within the expected values for similar lakes. Sampeld Bluegill ranged in length from 1.9-8.8 inches, with a mean length of 5.3 inches. Thirty-eight percent of Bluegill were six inches or longer and 3% were eight inches or longer. Black Crappie numbers (4.1/trap net) were similar to the 2012 survey (4.7/trap net) and the historical average (5.4/trap net). Black Crappie gill net catches (1/net) were similar to the 2012 survey (0.5/net) but lower than the historical average (3.8/net). Catch rates were within the expected values for similar lakes. Overall, 41 Black Crappie were sampled and ranged in length from 3.6-10.6 inches, with a mean length of 7.1 inches. Twelve percent of the Black Crappie sampled were eight inches or longer and 5% were 10 inches or longer. The Yellow Perch catch (11.8/gill net) was less than both the 2012 survey (23/gill net) and the historical average (17.3/gill net), but still within the expected values for similar lakes. Sampled Perch ranged in length from 5.2-8 inches, with a mean length of 5.9 inches. The DNR has never stocked Walleye into Long Lake; however, a local sportsmen's group has been stocking Walleye fingerlings since 2002. Even with the stocking efforts they have never been able to produce a catch rate greater than 1.5/gill net. Five Walleye were sampled during the survey and ranged in length from 9.6-25 inches, with a mean length of 19.9 inches. Other species sampled include: Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Emerald Bowfin, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Bullhead.

Long Lake is located in Stearns County, one mile south of St. Rosa. The lake has a surface area of 92 acres and a maximum depth of 65 feet. The watershed is large and dominated by agriculture. There are few homes on the lake, but a large area along shore has steep banks and is grazed by cattle, causing erosion. Water quality is moderate and the lake has a modest number of aquatic plant species; coontail, chara, and sago pondweed were the most common species. Plants grew to a maximum depth of 13 feet. Curly-leaf pondweed is an invasive plant found at or near the surface in three percent of the lake area at the end of May. Northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, and yellow perch are present in the lake. A public access is located on the west side of the lake. Long lake was surveyed in June 2012. Northern pike abundance was similar to the last survey in 2002 and within the expected range for similar lakes. The average size was 23 inches and three pounds. The largest northern pike caught was 30 inches. Growth was fast; northern pike grew to 24 inches in four years. Thirty-six percent of northern pike were longer than 24 inches. Most northern pike were three or four years old. Largemouth bass were sampled by daytime electrofishing in May 2012. The catch rate was low and the average length was 11 inches. The largest bass caught was 21 inches. However, the true number of largemouth bass may be higher because much of the lake drops off sharply from the shore, making electrofishing difficult. In contrast, night electrofishing in 2002 found the number of bass to be above average. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked by the local sportsman's club in eight of the last ten years. The walleye catch rate was low, but the number of walleye stocked has never been high. Only four walleye were caught, ranging from seven to 16 inches long. Gill nets were set parallel to shore due to the sharp drop-off and low oxygen in deeper water, possibly reducing their effectiveness. The number of bluegill was similar to the 2002 survey and within the expected range for similar lakes. The average length was six inches and the largest bluegill caught was nearly nine inches. Bluegill growth was average, reaching six inches in four years. Most bluegill were three to five years old. Black crappie numbers were within the expected range and changed little from 2002. The average length for black crappie was seven inches and the largest crappie was nine inches. Growth was average, reaching nine inches in four years. Most black crappies were two years old. Yellow perch numbers were within the expected range for lakes similar to Long and were similar to the 2002 survey. The average length was six inches and the largest perch was over nine inches. Growth was average; yellow perch reached seven inches in four years. Most yellow perch were three or four years old. Other species captured in the survey included: bowfin, brown bullhead, common carp, golden shiner, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed, and yellow bullhead.

Long Lake is located in northern Stearns County, two miles northwest of Freeport. It is a narrow but deep lake, with surface area of 70 acres and a maximum depth of 65 feet. A public access with a boat ramp and parking area is located on the west shore.A survey was conducted in 2002 to assess fish populations, and included spring electrofishing and summer netting (trap nets, gill nets, and seines). Catch rates were compared to lakes with similar characteristics as a way to evaluate the fish populations of Long Lake. The survey also included water chemistry analysis, watershed mapping, and an aquatic plant survey.Long Lake is managed primarily for northern pike and largemouth bass. The lake is also popular with anglers seeking bluegill and black crappie. Based on the 2002 sampling, populations of all these species were within the expected range, both in terms of number and average size. The average size northern pike was 21 inches (2.4 pounds), but two were sampled that were over 35 inches. Many of the bass sampled were between 12-16 inches, but a few were over 18 inches. Most of the bluegill were between 6-7.5 inches, with a few larger than 8 inches. The largest black crappie was 10.5 inches.A walleye population has been supported by infrequent stocking of fry and fingerlings. The catch rate in 2002 was low, but this was expected since the lake is not well suited to natural reproduction of walleye, and the most recent stocking occurred in the 1970s. One of the larger walleyes sampled was estimated to be 17 years old (but only 23 inches long). Walleye fingerlings were stocked by a local group in 2002, and another stocking is planned for 2003.The catch rate of yellow perch, an important forage species for northern pike and walleye, was within the expected range. The majority of perch were 5-6 inches, with a few over 9 inches. White sucker, dogfish, and bullheads were also sampled during the survey.Long Lake has a fairly large watershed (the land draining into the lake) for its size, and this impacts water quality. Algae blooms were seen during summer 2002, and aquatic vegetation reached nuisance levels in shallow areas.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Pumpkinseed, 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 65 feet and a mean depth of 21 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.