Long

Long Lake is a 264-acre, class 43 lake, located in Watonwan County, approximately 5.5 miles south of the City of St. James. The lake has a maximum depth of 13.0 feet and has a watershed-to-lake-ratio of 6 to 1. The lakes watershed is highly agricultural and much of Long Lake's shoreline has been altered by residential development. In addition to the highly agricultural use surrounding the lake, the association also has a diversion that is used to augment water levels in the lake by pumping water from the Watonwan River to Long Lake on the east end of the lake. Long Lake is managed primarily for walleye and secondarily for black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. Long Lake has a troubling recent stretch of history involving serval fish kills. A standard survey was conducted during the week of July 18, 2022 with gill nets and trap nets. Following the survey, there was a fish kill event in September that caused a large amount of Black Crappie to die. While the amount of fish dead was unknown, the estimated number was easily in the thousands. A follow-up survey was done in October with 1 gill net and 3 trap nets in an attempt to determine the extent of the fish kill. Results of that survey indicate that all species are still present, but likely a large percentage of Black Crappie greater than 8 inches likely experienced mortality. Finally, and unfortunately, the winter of 2022-2023 was long and harsh and resulted in many shallow southern Minnesota lakes experiencing winterkill. Long Lake was included in those lakes experiencing winterkill. Another survey was conducted in May 2023 to determine the extent of the winterkill. The survey indicated a partial winterkill that left many undesirable fish species and a lake that needed to be restocked with gamefish. In May 2023, 128,000 Walleye fry (Lower Mississippi Strain from Lake Sarah egg-take) were stocked. An October daytime electrofishing survey confirmed that the Walleye stocking was very successful with 226 6.1 inch age-0 Walleye caught in 30 minutes of electrofishing (452 per hour extrapolation). This is very encouraging as it is the most age-0 Walleye ever documented (stocked or natural) in a single year class for Long Lake. Contingent upon survivability of the fish in Long Lake over the next year or two, Long Lake is well suited for a big bounce back recovery. Minnesota Walleye research shows that age-0 Walleye over 5-6 inches have a very good chance of survival to older ages. Additional Walleye stocking will occur as well as additional fish sampling conducted to verify the recovery of the Walleye in Long Lake.

Long Lake is a 264-acre, class 43 lake, located in Watonwan County, approximately 5.5 miles south of the City of St. James. The lake has a maximum depth of 13.0 feet and has a watershed-to-lake-ratio of 6 to 1. The lakes watershed is highly agricultural and much of Long Lake's shoreline has been altered by residential development. In addition to the highly agricultural use surrounding the lake, the association also has a diversion that is used to augment water levels in the lake by pumping water from the Watonwan River to Long Lake on the east end of the lake. Long Lake is managed primarily for walleye and secondarily for black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. A standard survey was conducted during the week of July 18, 2022 with gill nets trap nets. Following the survey, there was a fish kill event in September that caused a large amount of Black Crappie to die. While the amount of fish dead was unknown, the estimated number was easily in the thousands. A follow-up survey was done in October with 1 gill net and 3 trap nets in an attempt to determine the extent of the fish kill. Results of that survey indicate that all species are still present, but likely a large percentage of Black Crappie greater than 8 inches experienced mortality. Finally, and unfortunately, the winter of 2022-2023 was long and harsh and resulted in many shallow southern Minnesota lakes experiencing winterkill. Long Lake was included in those lakes experiencing winterkill. Another survey was conducted in May 2023 to determine the extent of the winterkill. Seven species were sampled in gill nets and trap nets. Black Bullhead were most abundant by biomass (93.7%) followed by Bigmouth Buffalo (2.2%), Common Carp (2.0%), Northern Pike (1.9%), and all other species (Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Yellow Bullhead) less than 1%. It was apparent after seeing the amount of Black Bullhead, Bigmouth Buffalo, and Common Carp biomass in the gill nets and trap nets that there was a partial winterkill. The partial winterkill left tolerant species in much greater abundance than the other remaining gamefish species (Northern Pike, Black Crappie, and Yellow Perch). Therefore, a restocking effort was undertaken in Long Lake. Walleye fry (128,000 lower Mississippi strain from Lake Sarah egg-take operation) were stocked in May. Black Crappie were also restocked in May (105 broodstock adult fish pre-spawn) in order to boost the low density population that remained. Bluegill and Largemouth Bass (both pre-spawn) were stocked in June with 675 adult Bluegill and 18 spawning pair (36 total) of adult Largemouth Bass. Finally, in order to add to the Northern Pike population 497 fall fingerling (7 fish/pound) were stocked. These fish should do well in Long Lake and result in a fishable population of each species a year or two from now. An October daytime electrofishing survey confirmed that the Walleye stocking was successful with 226 fish that averaged 6.1 inches in 30 minutes of electrofishing (452 per hour extrapolation). This is very encouraging as it is quite possibly the most age-0 Walleye ever observed in a single year class for Long Lake. Contingent upon survivability of the fish in Long Lake over the next year or two, Long Lake is well suited for a big bounce back recovery. Additional stocking to augment the fish community as well as additional fish sampling will be conducted to verify the recovery of the fish in Long Lake.

Long Lake is a 264-acre, 13 foot deep, low-complexity shoreline lake located in Watonwan County, approximately 5.5 miles south of the City of St. James. The lake has a watershed-to-lake-ratio of 6 to 1. The lakes watershed is highly agricultural and much of Long Lake's shoreline has been altered by residential development. In addition to the highly agricultural use surrounding the lake, the association also has a diversion that is used to augment water levels in the lake by pumping water from the Watonwan River to Long Lake on the east end of the lake. Long Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch. A standard survey was conducted during the week of July 18, 2022 with 3 gill nets and 9 trap nets to monitor fish populations using three gill nets and seven trap nets. Following the survey, there was a fish kill event in September that caused a large amount of Black Crappie to die. While the amount of fish dead was unknown, the estimated number was easily in the thousands. Samples of dead fish from the fish kill were sent to the DNR pathology lab in St. Paul. Results were inconclusive and showed no single known cause of the fish kill. A follow-up survey was done in October with 1 gill net and 3 trap nets to determine the extent of the fish kill. Results of that survey indicate that all species are still present, but many Black Crappie have been eliminated. During July, 12 species were sampled in gill nets and trap nets. Black Crappie were most abundant by biomass (23.9%) followed by Common Carp (18.3%), Bluegill (17.6%), Freshwater Drum (13.8%), and Black Bullhead (11.0%) with all other species (Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Bullhead, Yellow Perch, Bigmouth Buffalo, and Channel Catfish) less than 5% each. Long Lake is actively managed for Walleye primarily followed by Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch. Each managed species is discussed in the following paragraphs. Walleye have typically done poorly in Long Lake, as catch rates have averaged 1.6 per gill net and have not exceeded 3.0 per gill net since 2002. Since the early 1990s, various stocking strategies including fry, frylings (an intermediate size fish), fingerlings, yearlings and adults have been employed to increase Walleye abundance, with little success. The 2022 catch rate of 0.7 per gill net was similar to catches in the mid-to-late 1990's and was less than the normal range of catch rates for class 43 lakes (2.3 to 18.1 per gill net). Two Walleye, 24.8 inches and 26.5 inches, were caught in the gill net sample. Regardless of stocking strategy, abundance continued to be very low, thus fry stocking (cheapest method) began again in 2017 at a frequency of three out of 4 years at 500 per littoral acre. The management goal was not met because the catch rate did not exceed 5.0 per gill net. The management goal will need to be adjusted in the future to reflect an inability to produce a consistent abundant Walleye population. While a large population of Walleye may not be possible in Long Lake, large individual Walleye have been caught and continue to be sampled and caught in the lake. Walleye appeared to be spared from any negative impacts from the September fish kill. Abundance and size of Walleye remaining the October sample (3 total Walleye all over 19 inches) was similar to the summer sample (4 total Walleye all over 20 inches). Black Crappie abundance was extremely high in the mid-summer sampling in 2022. The catch rate was 38.1 per trap net, higher than the long term average of 32.9 per trap net, and exceeding the normal range of catch rates for this class of lakes (1.2 to 20.5 per trap net). The 2022 catch rate was a decrease from 57.3 per trap net observed in 2018 but still above relative abundances observed since 2002 (64.75 per trap net). Additionally, the gill net catch rate was the greatest ever observed at 79.0 per net verifying an extremely abundant population. Black Crappie ranged from 6.2 inches to 10.4 inches (8.4 inch average) in the trap net sample and ranged from 4.5 inches to 9.5 inches (7.4 inch average) in the gill net sample. Condition of Black Crappie was average. Interestingly, condition of Black Crappie in the gill net and trap net samples declined as length increased indicating some density dependent stress among larger individuals. It appeared as if the Black Crappie over 8 inches were experiencing some stress. After the fish kill in September, the gill net catch rate of Black Crappie was 11.00 per gill net. While the catch rate declined nearly 7 times less than the summer sample amount of 79.0 per net, the post kill catch rate was still within the normal range (1.4 to 13.8 per gill net). Trap nets only caught 5 Black Crappie during the post kill sampling. Black Crappie ranged from 3.8 inches to 7.7 inches with an average length of 5.9 inches in the gill net sample while they ranged from 7.3 inches to 7.7 inches with an average length of 7.5 inches in the trap nets. It is apparent that many larger Black Crappie over 8 inches were lost due to the fish kill. While this is concerning, due to poor water quality from heavy algae blooms, the remaining Black Crappie will have less competition for resources and should have excellent growth over the next several years. In 2022, the Bluegill catch rate was 48.6 per trap net. This catch rate is the greatest on record, dating back to 1985 and is more than twice the long-term average of 16.9 per trap net. Prior to 2022, trap net catch rates have only been above the upper normal range of 20.0 per trap net twice (2002 and 2006). Lengths of Bluegill ranged from 5.4 to 8.2 inches and averaged 7.2 inches, with 77 percent of Bluegill being greater than 7.0 inches in length. Fortunately, it appears the September fish kill didn't have a large effect on the Bluegill population as 19.0 per trap net were caught in October. In October, Bluegill ranged in length from 4.1 inches to 8.1 inches with a mean length of 6.4 inches. Thirty-five percent of Bluegill were over 7.0 inches. Bluegill are a bright spot in the fish community in Long Lake. The management goal was met because a fishable population of Bluegill exists. A robust Bluegill population with Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as predators may be the best fish management scenario for Long Lake moving forward. The Yellow Perch catch rate in 2022 was 10.0 per gill net, within the normal range of catch rates for class 43 lakes (2.7 to 25.0 per gill net) but less than the long-term average of 33.3 per gill net. Lengths of Yellow Perch ranged from 5.7 to 7.7 inches and averaged 6.6 inches. Body condition of Yellow Perch was good, indicating that they are foraging successfully. Yellow Perch were present in similar relative abundance (12.0 per gill net) and length (6.1 inches to 7.4 inches with a mean length of 6.7 inches) during the post fish kill survey in October indicating little change in the Yellow Perch population. The management goal was met because a fishable population of Yellow Perch is present in Long Lake. Of the species not discussed above, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, and Black Bullhead were the most abundant by biomass. They have been long-time members of the fish community and continue to have an important presence in the community. Of the species with less than 5% biomass during the July survey, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike are the most notable. Largemouth Bass are not easily sampled with gill nets or trap nets so this relative abundance is most likely less than what is actually in the lake. Largemouth Bass angling has been very good in Long Lake over the past 5 years, and this should continue. Electrofishing may need to be done to properly assess the relative abundance of Largemouth Bass. Northern Pike are a very important top predator in Minnesota Lakes, especially where crappie and Bluegill are numerous. Only 1 Northern Pike was sampled in 2022. As a result, Northern Pike fall fingerlings (102 fish 12-14 inches) were stocked in October. Those fish should add an important top predator to the population and help to control the abundant Bluegill. Even after the significant Black Crappie kill during the late summer of 2022, Long Lake is poised for a bright angling future. Bluegill are abundant, and of a decent size for anglers. Largemouth Bass angling is good and Northern Pike abundance is on the rise with the recent stocking. The only negative is the lack of consistent Walleye abundance. Walleye stocking may need to focus on adding yearling fish when they are available in local production ponds. Additionally, continued Northern Pike stocking should occur as they are available to provide a predator presence to control reproduction of non-managed species as well as aid in balancing an abundant Bluegill population.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, 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 13 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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.