Long Lake is a lake in Michigan, near St. Joseph County.
If you are getting ready to fish Long Lake, keep the first plan simple. This lake is in St. Joseph County. It covers about 208 acres. The deepest recorded spot is 41 feet. On a first trip, I would use the wind, water color, visible cover, and any signs of bait to decide where to spend time on Long Lake.
Transitions usually beat featureless water. Look for an edge that gives fish cover, food, and a quick route to a different depth.
In spring, check warming flats beside a quick depth change. During summer, fish the hours and depths with the best temperature and oxygen. In fall, follow bait as cooling water makes more of the lake comfortable again.
At Long Lake, I would give the first three stops different jobs. One should test shallow cover, one should test a clean edge, and one should test deeper water. That tells us more than making the same cast in three places that only look different from above.
| County | St. Joseph |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake |
| Surface area | 208 acres |
| Maximum depth | 41 feet |
| Recorded fish | Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brown Bullhead, Lake Chubsucker, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and Yellow Bullhead, plus 1 more |
The available profile for Long Lake in St. Joseph County estimates vegetation coverage around 5.1 percent. That matters because plant cover can shape where baitfish, panfish, bass, and northern pike spend much of the growing season.
The current record for Long Lake in St. Joseph County lists Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brown Bullhead, Lake Chubsucker, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch. That is a starting point, not a promise that every species is common in every season or every part of the basin. For largemouth bass, compare shallow cover with the first firm edge before assuming the fish moved deep. A small jig is a clean way to locate the active panfish depth. For larger predators, cover water methodically around outside weed edges, points, and concentrations of forage.
Build the tackle around the likely fish instead of bringing the heaviest setup by default. Keep released fish supported and wet, remove hooks efficiently, and follow Michigan rules on bait movement and transport.
Do not get stubborn about yesterday's pattern. If a place shows no bites, followers, bait, or other signs of life after a fair test, move, change depth, or show the fish something different.
Begin where healthy cover touches a depth change. If that area is empty, check the nearest inflow, point, or hard-bottom patch before making a long move.
If Long Lake is not showing bait, bites, followers, or healthy cover after a fair try, change depth or move to a different type of water. Do not stay put only because the spot looks good.
Check the current Michigan regulations for the exact species and water, then look at wind, temperature, and recent rain. Conditions can matter as much as the season printed on the calendar.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.
Source dates describe the evidence, not a live catch forecast. Check the managing authority before planning access or keeping fish.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.