Long Lake is a big, deep, clear, spring-fed lake — and that depth profile is exactly why it fishes so well. At 3,478 acres with a maximum depth of 74 feet and an average depth of about 26 feet, it offers everything from shallow weedy bays to deep main-lake basins. Learn the layout and the lake gets a lot smaller.
Bottom composition
What is under your boat matters as much as how deep it is. Long Lake's bottom is roughly 42% sand, 42% gravel, 2% rock and 14% muck. That heavy sand-and-gravel makeup is classic walleye and smallmouth habitat, while the muck-bottomed bays grow the weeds that hold pike, largemouth and panfish. The clear water lets weeds grow to about fifteen feet, creating sharp, fishable edges.
Key structure to fish
- Steep rock and gravel drop-offs — walleye highways where shallow flats fall into deep water.
- The mid-lake hump toward the south end — a quick drop-off that stacks walleye and pike, best mid-summer early and late.
- North-end green weeds — prime spring walleye and panfish water.
- Weedbeds near Kunz Island and Gruenhagen Bay — trophy pike, especially through the ice.
- Windswept rocky shorelines of the main basin — walleye pile up here after a good chop.
Where to get a detailed map
For a full contour map with depth lines, the Wisconsin DNR Wisconsin Lakes database (search Long Lake, Washburn County, WBIC 2106800) and the DNR lake survey are the best starting points, and mapping apps and lake-map services offer detailed digital charts you can use on your phone or chartplotter. A good map plus a basic sonar will have you reading Long Lake like a local in no time.
Use the map with our walleye, musky and pike & bass guides, then launch from one of the four public landings.
Lake map & depth FAQ
How deep is Long Lake in Sarona, Wisconsin?
Long Lake has a maximum depth of about 74 feet and a mean depth of roughly 26 feet across its 3,478 acres, making it one of the deeper big lakes in the region.
What is the bottom of Long Lake like?
The bottom is about 42% sand, 42% gravel, 2% rock and 14% muck. The sand and gravel suit walleye and smallmouth, while muck-bottomed bays grow the weeds that hold pike, largemouth and panfish.
Where can I get a Long Lake depth map?
The Wisconsin DNR Lakes database (Long Lake, Washburn County, WBIC 2106800) offers survey and mapping data, and digital lake-map apps provide detailed contour charts for your phone or chartplotter.