Long

This targeted survey was completed to determine extent of winterkill following the severe 2022-2023 winter. Trap netting results suggested that a partial winterkill likely occurred, and some gamefish mortality was evident. Black Crappie and Yellow Perch were the only gamefishes sampled and smaller fish dominated both populations. Walleye fry were stocked in spring 2023.

Long Lake is a 620-acre lake located near Cyrus in Stevens County. It is a shallow, turbid prairie lake with a maximum depth of 12.0 ft. A gravel access is located on the west side of the lake. Water quality and clarity can be poor during summer months in response to wind and wave-induced re-suspension of sediments and subsequent algal blooms. Water clarity was 5.5 feet during this survey. Turbidity causes poor water clarity and can limit aquatic vegetation diversity and coverage. Limited water clarity also hampers feeding efficiency of sight-feeding predators such as Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. Open water species such as Walleye and Black Crappie fare better in fertile basins with turbid water and limited aquatic vegetation. Walleye, Black Crappie, and Yellow Perch made up the greatest total biomass of gamefishes captured in Long Lake in 2019. Occasional summer and winterkill events have undermined fish community structure and fishing potential, but based on catch statistics from the 2019 standard survey, Long Lake can offer good fishing opportunities. Walleye catches were lower than past surveys, but near average for similar lakes. Gill net catches averaged 8.2 Walleye/gill net. A majority of the Walleye catch was comprised of two-year-olds recruited from the 2017 fry stocking. Average length was 15.7 inches. Age distribution extended to age 13. The largest capture measured 25.9 inches. Seven year classes were represented in the 2019 gill net catch. Walleye grow exceptionally fast, reaching 17.3 inches at age 3. Opportunities to catch harvestable size fish should be good in 2020. Black Crappies proved to be very abundant. Most captures were two-year-old fish, thus the crappie catch was dominated by 6.0 to 8.0 inch fish. Similar to other gamefishes in Long Lake, crappie grow fast. The largest capture measured 14.4 inches. Those two-year-old crappie should approach 10.0 inches late in 2020. Bluegill and Yellow Perch add to panfishing opportunities. Bluegill are not abundant, but they can grow large. The largest Bluegill caught was an eight-year-old fish measuring 10.5 inches. Yellow Perch are very abundant, but at present, most captures were young fish, recruits from a strong 2018 year class. Perch grow very fast and much of the population was already between 6.5 to 8.5 inches in length. If fast growth can be sustained, good perch fishing opportunities should develop. The largest Yellow Perch caught measured 12.6 inches. Daytime electrofishing took place on June 4th to target Largemouth Bass. Few Largemouth Bass were sampled. Of the few fish that were sampled, average length was 12.7 inches. The largest capture measured 16.9 inches. Other fishes sampled during the 2019 survey included Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead. Long Lake is currently not an infested water. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are easily moved from infested to non-infested waters and can negatively affect lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain water from their boat before leaving the access. For more information regarding aquatic invasive species see the following: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquatic/index.html.

This targeted survey was completed to determine extent of winterkill following the severe 2018-2019 winter. Survey components included late-winter water quality measurement and early-spring trap netting. Late-winter dissolved oxygen readings were low, which indicated gamefish losses due to winterkill were possible. However, early-spring trap netting results suggested that winterkill severity was low and restorative stockings were not warranted. Gamefish species present included Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Yellow Perch.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, 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 9.5 feet and a mean depth of 5.3 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Long is from 2019.

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.