Longnose Gar Lakes in Michigan, 39 Lakes

Longnose Gar is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 51 lakes carry documentation. Longnose Gar is narrowly distributed — only 39 lakes in Michigan and 12 in Minnesota have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.

Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Longnose Gar lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Longnose Gar documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Michigan Lakes

Counties

Longnose Gar Lakes Map

Every Michigan lake with documented longnose gar.

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Best Longnose Gar Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Clarity	Depth
1	Round Lake	Lenawee	12.3 ft	67 ft
2	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	13.5 ft	-
3	Round Lake	Benzie	15 ft	-
4	Houghton Lake	Roscommon	5 ft	21 ft
5	Crooked Lake	Emmet	-	50 ft
6	Pleasant Lake	Oakland	10 ft	-
7	Round Lake	Shiawassee	6 ft	-
8	Lake Bellaire	Antrim	12.5 ft	95 ft
9	Crooked Lake	Barry	12 ft	-
10	Long Lake	Gogebic	12 ft	60 ft
11	Chippewa Lake	Mecosta	11 ft	40 ft
12	Pleasant Lake	Wexford	9 ft	10 ft
13	Clark Lake	Jackson	10 ft	50 ft
14	Eagle Lake	Cass	7 ft	35 ft
15	Pickerel Lake	Kalkaska	20 ft	72 ft
16	Eagle Lake	Allegan	15 ft	-
17	Upper Herring Lake	Benzie	8 ft	25 ft
18	Jordan Lake	Barry	7.5 ft	-
19	Portage Lake	Jackson	8.8 ft	40 ft
20	Crooked Lake	Oakland	11.5 ft	60 ft
21	Middle Lake	Lapeer	9 ft	-
22	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	24.3 ft	88 ft
23	Round Lake	Oakland	10.5 ft	15 ft
24	Round Lake	Oakland	10 ft	-
25	Long Lake	Benzie	9 ft	-
26	Clark Lake	Livingston	12 ft	40 ft
27	Baldwin Lake	Cass	9 ft	-
28	Long Lake	Cass	10.5 ft	42 ft
29	Diamond Lake	Newaygo	12.3 ft	25 ft
30	Baldwins Lake	Cass	8 ft	55 ft
31	Union Lake	Branch	3.5 ft	-
32	Round Lake	Shiawassee	6.5 ft	-
33	Diamond Lake	Osceola	16 ft	60 ft
34	Burt Lake	Cheboygan	15.5 ft	73 ft
35	Long Lake	Cheboygan	18 ft	61 ft
36	Pickerel Lake	Emmet	9.5 ft	74 ft
37	Elk Lake	Antrim	14.5 ft	150 ft
38	Round Lake	Kent	8 ft	-
39	Donnell Lake	Cass	-	-

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have longnose gar?

Longnose Gar are found in 39 lakes in Michigan.

What are the best longnose gar lakes in Michigan?

The best longnose gar lakes in Michigan by water quality are Round Lake, Whitefish Lake, Round Lake, Houghton Lake, Crooked Lake.

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.