Boating
The four-mile fetch of open water at Long Branch provides water skiers and sail boaters ample room to maneuver. The main body of the lake is the East Fork of the Little Chariton River, which is the west arm of the lake. This stretch lies between the dam and AX Road. Timber was left standing in the Long Branch arm of the lake to provide fish habitat with the resulting standing trees making for hazardous boating conditions on that arm of the lake.
Access to the lake is provided by three boat ramps located in the Bloomington, Bee Trace and Macon areas of Long Branch State Park. The boat ramps are open 24 hours a day. There is no fee to launch boats at Long Branch.