Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 29, 2024
Long Lost Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Long Lost Lake average 9.96 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 29, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches. In Clearwater County, Minnesota, Long Lost Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 22.0 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Long Lost Lake
11 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Long Lost Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Long Lost Lake average 9.96 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 29, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Long Lost Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 40.40 | — |
| Bluegill | 16.83 | 0.26 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 9.96 | 0.82 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 4.54 | 0.2 lb |
| Northern Pike | 4.06 | 1.37 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
From the 2024-07-29 survey
Long Lost Lake is a 501-acre lake with a maximum depth of 63 feet located 8 miles south of the town of Zerkel in southern Clearwater County. Lake levels rose considerably since the early 1990s but have receded several feet in recent years, although the lake is still higher than historic levels. This has resulted in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Long Lost Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Long LostFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Long Lost (1338)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Long LostFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Long LostPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Long Lost Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Long Lost Lake average 9.96 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 29, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–16 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 11 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Long Lost Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Long Lost Lake is dated July 29, 2024. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Long Lost Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Long Lost Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Long Lost Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Long Lost Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Long Lost Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Long Lost Lake
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