Long Lake, Ionia County Fishing
A 357-acre Michigan lake in Ionia County.
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Long Lake, Ionia County: size, place and fish
Ionia County holds Long Lake, Ionia County, a lake of 357 acres. The nearest Census place is Belding, roughly 6 miles from the shore point. Management unit: Southern Lake Michigan; peninsula: Lower Peninsula. Its water heads toward the Southeastern Lake Michigan basin, in the Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains ecoregion.
MDNR records name black crappie, blackchin shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, green sunfish and largemouth bass. You can launch at 1 public launch. A 2023 satellite estimate shows about 8.1 feet of visibility.
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Each fish below has an MDNR record tied to Long Lake, Ionia County.
How often surveys found each fish at Long Lake, Ionia County
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 4 | 1955 to 1997 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 4 | 1955 to 1997 |
| Largemouth bass | 4 | 1955 to 1997 |
| Western banded killifish | 4 | 1955 to 1997 |
| Pumpkinseed | 3 | 1955 to 1997 |
| Rock bass | 3 | 1955 to 1997 |
| Blackchin shiner | 2 | 1955 to 1997 |
| Green sunfish | 2 | 1955 to 1997 |
| Yellow perch | 2 | 1955 to 1997 |
| Black crappie | 1 | 1997 |
| Least darter | 1 | 1997 |
| Pugnose shiner | 1 | 1997 |
| Tadpole madtom | 1 | 1997 |
| Blacknose shiner | 2 | 1955 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Launch sites at Long Lake, Ionia County
- Long Lake Boat Access near Belding1 lane, 11 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Ionia State Recreation Area
Ramps within reach of Long Lake, Ionia County
- Duck Pond Boat AccessDuck Pond, 1 mile north
- Clear Lake Boat Access near SheridanClear Lake, 1 mile northeast
- Grass Lake – North Boat AccessGrass Lake, 2 miles northeast
- Woodard Lake Boat AccessWoodard Lake, 4 miles southeast
- Belding Dam Impoundment Boat AccessFlat River, 5 miles west
- Belding Dam Boat AccessFlat River, 6 miles west
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
The color and clarity of Long Lake, Ionia County
EGLE derives the Long Lake, Ionia County readings from Landsat, July through September.
Algae, measured as chlorophyll a, ran 7.19 micrograms per liter in 2023.
EGLE Michigan Inland Lakes Water Clarity layer (Landsat, July to September), checked October 2026. Depth is not published here: the layer depth fields are unreliable.
Season dates at Long Lake, Ionia County
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Lower Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Lower Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout in unclassified lakes | 5, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater; minimum 8 inches | Open all year |
The table gives the statewide inland limits Long Lake, Ionia County falls under on the Lower Peninsula.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Long Lake, Ionia County compared with close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Lake, Ionia County | 357 | 1 | 8.1 | 13 | |
| Clear Lake, Montcalm County | 1 mile northeast | 18 | 1 | 14.8 | 0 |
| Grass Lake near Sheridan, Montcalm County | 2 miles northeast | 39 | 1 | 0 | |
| Woodard Lake | 4 miles southeast | 70 | 1 | 9.5 | 0 |
| Half Moon Lake, Montcalm County | 10 miles north | 52 | 1 | 13.5 | 0 |
| Twin Stone Lakes (east | 10 miles north | 24 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
A short drive from Long Lake, Ionia County
Lakes in the same corner as Long Lake, Ionia County
- Clear Lake, Montcalm County1 mile northeast
- Grass Lake near Sheridan, Montcalm County2 miles northeast
- Woodard Lake4 miles southeast
- Half Moon Lake, Montcalm County10 miles north
- Twin Stone Lakes (east10 miles north
Shops to stop at on the way to Long Lake, Ionia County
- Magnum Sportsbait and tackle shop, Greenville, 9 miles
- Dockside Boatworksmarina, Greenville, 11 miles
- Hilltop Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Greenville, 11 miles
- Mead's Marine Repairmarina, Carson City, 11 miles
- Papas Tackle Box – CLOSEDbait and tackle shop, Crystal, 15 miles
- Murray Lake Marina Incmarina, Lowell, 15 miles
Guides that list Long Lake, Ionia County
- Fishin 4 Trophies Charterscharter, Wyoming, (616) 318-0102
- Getting Bit Guide Servicecharter, Grand Rapids, (616) 570-2946
- reel down outfitterscharter, hastings, (616) 914-7416
- Betts Guide Servicefishing guide, Newaygo, (231) 519-7348
Base camps for Long Lake, Ionia County
- Belding6 miles
- Palo7 miles
- Sheridan7 miles
Counties that Long Lake, Ionia County spans
- Ionia Countyseat: Ionia
Piscifun gear picked for Long Lake, Ionia County
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Species to expect at Long Lake, Ionia County
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain
Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain
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Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to settle before fishing Long Lake, Ionia County
Which part of Michigan holds Long Lake, Ionia County?
Its shore is in Ionia County, Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 6 miles from Belding.
What size is Long Lake, Ionia County?
357 acres of surface water.
Does Long Lake, Ionia County have a public boat launch?
MDNR maps 1 public launch; Long Lake Boat Access near Belding is a good start.
What swims in Long Lake, Ionia County?
black crappie, blackchin shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, green sunfish, largemouth bass and least darter, per MDNR records.
Which MDNR rules govern Long Lake, Ionia County?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Can a visitor fish Long Lake, Ionia County on a Michigan license?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day.
Does Long Lake, Ionia County run clear or murky?
Summer 2023 imagery: about 8.1 feet.
Who sells bait nearest Long Lake, Ionia County?
Magnum Sports sits about 9 miles from the lake.
Pick a weekend for Long Lake, Ionia County
The license page holds every Michigan fee and season.