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Effects of Flooding on North Long Lake?


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Heading up to the Brainerd area July 7-14 and hearing about extensive flooding in the area so I'm wondering what effect is has been having on lake levels, fishing, and overall clarity of North long? Appreciate any feedback!

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Was out there last night & fished Merrifield side...it's up but not to bad. Access is good & dock seems high enough. Water had some debris floating in it & the weeds have shot up. The loons must be flooded out of nests because there was a large group of about 20 of them where I was trying to fish. Fishing was slow...only 2 little eyes & a bass. Not sure how the main lake or 371 bay is.

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Just came off N. Long, barometer was falling, nice overcast, nice chop,

one 24" snake. frown

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20 loons all together ?????

sounds fishy to me

sure they weren't coots...lol

i have to wonder if there is 20 loons on the whole lake ???/

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Sorry Gregg I didn't get an official head count on them for you but I definitely know the difference between a effin loon & a coot & these were loons & made the call of a loon. It was a large group of them & they had lots of small ones in the middle of the adults. It was actually pretty cool to see.

The only thing that smells fishy is your finger!!!

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ahh i forgot about babies

i ve seen a few of those

loons generally dont group that big

not quite sure what my finger has to do with any thing

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Just messing with you gregg...thought you said "smells fishy" lol

True story though! I was very surprised to see such a large group myself. It was almost like the adult loons were protecting the baby ones swimming in the middle. Wish I would have taken a picture of it.

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Finger typing your reply sounds fishy...groups of loons are not at all uncommon - might need to get out a bit further...

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hmmm i dunno i'm 59 and have been fishing for bout 50 of those years

and would bet i'm on the water more than the avg fisherman

i cant say i can remember ever seeing more than 4-6 loons in a small area...adult loons

and when they have babies i dont really remember seeing more than 2 with their young on her back or swimming next to them

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WFC you see big groups all the time. On my small lake, I will see 6-8 fly in, mess around, and then fly away. This is in the summer. In the spring when they return, following the ice-off, it is not uncommon to see flocks in the dozens.

I recall on Gervais Lake, just outside St. Paul, we were out in April and amazed when we saw hundreds (I swear, it was hundreds) of loons circling the lake, sitting down, flying, sitting. Just amazing. But that was springtime. Also tons of bufflehead and goldeneye out there too, and no I didn't mix them up, because I shoot buffies and goldeneye, aha, but not loons wink

I don't get out on North Long much (only once ever!) but I would not be surprised to see a couple dozen together on WFC. They are cool to watch!

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Well if you saw hundreds Box I have to take your word for it

I have never seen a flock of loons of more than 4-6

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I counted exactly 15 on a Backus area lake two weeks ago. That is the most I have ever seen. The most before then was 7 in the fall of the year. I assumed the were getting ready to migrate.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

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