Fishing Long Lake: Walleye, Northern, Bass and Panfish

Long Lake has a reputation, and it's an official one. The lake has been designated The Walleye Capital of Wisconsin, and anyone who has spent a morning on its water knows why people drive up from Minnesota, Illinois and farther just to wet a line. But walleye are only part of the story. The lake holds northern, bass, sunfish, crappie and bluegills too, which means a trip here works for the serious angler and for the kid with a bobber and a can of worms.

The lake in numbers

Long Lake covers 3,300 acres of spring-fed water. It has 99 miles of shoreline, with numerous bays and inlets, varied structure and depths down to 70 feet. For a fisherman, those details matter more than they sound. A lake with a ragged shoreline and plenty of structure has places for fish to hold, which gives you something to read and a reason to move around instead of anchoring in one spot all day.

What you can fish for

• Walleye, the headline species and the reason for the lake's official title.
• Northern, a good target when you want something with a fight.
• Bass, which tend to hang around structure and shoreline cover.
• Crappie, a favorite for anyone who likes a pan full of fish for supper.
• Bluegills and sunfish, the best starter fish for kids and the reason a bucket of worms is still a good idea.

If you're traveling with a mixed group, plan the day around the fish. Early morning and evening are traditional stretches for walleye anglers, while the middle of the day is a good window for panfish and for kids who aren't going to last through a pre-dawn alarm. Nobody on the water cares which of those you pick. Fish for what's fun.

Renting a boat from the Pioneer

You don't have to tow anything up from home. The Pioneer rents fishing boats and motors, with prices as published on the resort's boat rental page:

• 14' aluminum fishing boat: $45 a day or $100 a week.
• 9.9HP motor: $90 a day or $200 a week.
• 14' boat and motor together: $100 a day or $350 a week.

The math is worth a minute. If you're out for a single day, the boat and motor package at $100 is the simple answer. If you're staying a full week and expect to fish more than three or four times, the weekly boat and motor rate at $350 works out to a better deal per outing. And if you already own a motor or you're mostly drifting and paddling around a bay, the boat alone at $45 a day is the budget option. Call (715) 354-3500 to check what's available for your dates, since rental availability can change.

Reading the water

You don't need a lot of local knowledge to start. Use your eyes. With bays, inlets and varied structure, the lake rewards anyone who slows down and looks at the shoreline, the points and the places where the bottom changes. Try a few spots instead of staying put. If nothing's happening after a reasonable stretch, move. If you start catching fish, notice what depth and what kind of bottom you're over, and come back to that kind of water.

Depths to 70 feet means the lake has deep water, but you'll likely do most of your fishing in the shallower stretches and along edges, especially with a small boat and a 9.9HP motor. Take your time. A 14 foot aluminum boat is a calm-day boat, so check the weather before you head out and keep an eye on the sky. If the wind picks up or storm clouds build, head in early. Fish will be there tomorrow.

A few basics apply to any day on a lake. Wear a life jacket or at least have one on board for everyone in the boat, and make sure kids wear theirs. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat. Tell someone where you're going. And before you cast a line, check the current Wisconsin fishing license and regulation requirements with the state, since rules for seasons, sizes and limits change and are not something a blog post should guess at.

After the fishing

The best part of fishing from the Pioneer is that dinner is part of the deal. Pull the boat back to your dock space, rinse off, and walk up to the bar and grill, open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily per its Google listing. The menu leans on burgers, wings from the smoker and homemade pizza, which is the right sort of food after a day in the sun. If you're staying in a cottage, you have a gas range and a Weber grill, so a fresh catch is a short walk from the dock to dinner.