Fishing Report For Long Lake, MI

By Rick Seaman

March 12, 2025

Popular Fish Species Reports
Long Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Today's Weather & Forecast
Boat Launch Ramps
Fishing License
Map
Contact Info

Fishing Report Long Lake, MI

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Long Lake, MI

Walleye

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

Walleye like to slow cruise around flats and structure close to deep water. They primarily feed close to the bottom. A healthy population of walleye reside in the waters of Long Lake. Thanks to good fisheries management by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, fishing reports indicate good walleye fishing year round. When the lake freezes over in winter, ice fishing for walleye can be very productive. Use GPS to locate spots you normally fish during other times of the year. Spring, and then again in Fall, is arguably the best time for weekend anglers to catch them. During this time they tend to move shallower and closer to shore. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. Lots of 15" to 2" walleye are caught from Long Lake annually. As always, staying close by schools of baitfish. A proven method for catching walleye here is casting jigs, or trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, spoons or deep diving crankbaits.

Smallmouth Bass

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Very Good

Long Lake is loaded with smallmouth bass, many of which are in the bragging size category. Locals report that clear water dictates making long casts, using light line and being stealth. Topwater baits are a great tool to use especially early and late in the day, or on cloudy days. Jerkbaits will draw strikes from wary smallies when they may not attack topwater. Lots of smallmouth are being caught on small jigs and tube baits, especially in crawfish colors. Fishing for smallmouth is often very good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.

Yellow Perch

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

Ice fishing for yellow perch at Long Lake has been good this winter, as it has for numerous years now. A healthy, stable population of yellow perch reside here, providing a steady food source for larger, predator fish, plus they provide fun fishing for anglers. Perch are an excellent choice for a fish fry. Yellow perch are found all over the lake, shallow in Spring and Fall, then moving deeper in the heat of Summer and cold of Winter. Small jigs tipped with minnows, worms, or plastics are good choices year round.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch and northern pike at Long Lake in Michigan.

Long Lake is a 5,600-acre lake with 25 miles of shoreline, in the northeast corner of the lower peninsula. The lake has crystal-clear water, and is known for its populations of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, and a variety of panfish. In winter, ice fishing is popular.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Click here for boat ramps available at this lake.

Fishing License

Click here for a Michigan Fishing License.

Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".