Longnose Gar Lakes in Michigan
Found in 43 Michigan lakes · 12 in Minnesota
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. 55 lakes carry documentation. Longnose Gar is narrowly distributed — only 43 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 grade 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 the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Longnose Gar documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Longnose Gar Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented longnose gar, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Longnose Gar Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township | Benzie | A | 8 ft | - |
| 2 | Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township | Montcalm | A | 16 ft | - |
| 3 | Round Lake | Benzie | A | 15 ft | - |
| 4 | Round Lake Central Basin | Lenawee | A | 12 ft | - |
| 5 | Houghton Lake | Roscommon | A | 5 ft | - |
| 6 | Long Lake | Gogebic | A | 12 ft | - |
| 7 | Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | B | 13 ft | - |
| 8 | Crooked Lake | Emmet | B | - | - |
| 9 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | D | 6 ft | - |
| 10 | Long Lake | Cass | NR | 10.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Chippewa Lake | Mecosta | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 12 | Middle Lake | Lapeer | NR | 9 ft | - |
| 13 | Clark Lake | Livingston | NR | 12 ft | - |
| 14 | Eagle Lake | Cass | NR | 6 ft | - |
| 15 | Whitefish Lake | Montcalm | NR | 16.8 ft | - |
| 16 | Round Lake | Mecosta | NR | 8.5 ft | - |
| 17 | Pickerel Lake | Kalkaska | NR | 15 ft | - |
| 18 | Eagle Lake | Allegan | NR | 14 ft | - |
| 19 | Long Lake | Gogebic | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 20 | Union Lake | Branch | NR | 3.5 ft | - |
| 21 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | NR | 6.5 ft | - |
| 22 | Upper Herring Lake | Benzie | NR | 7.5 ft | - |
| 23 | Round Lake | Oakland | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 24 | Long Lake | Benzie | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 25 | Gun Lake | Mason | NR | 14 ft | - |
| 26 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | NR | 24 ft | - |
| 27 | Pleasant Lake | Wexford | NR | 9.3 ft | - |
| 28 | Round Lake | Benzie | NR | 15 ft | - |
| 29 | Crooked Lake | Barry | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 30 | Diamond Lake | Osceola | NR | 16 ft | - |
| 31 | Devils Lake | Lenawee | NR | 10.8 ft | - |
| 32 | Burt Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 15.5 ft | - |
| 33 | Baldwin Lake Northwest Basin | Cass | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 34 | Pleasant Lake | Oakland | NR | 9 ft | - |
| 35 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 18 ft | - |
| 36 | Pickerel Lake | Emmet | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 37 | Elk Lake | Antrim | NR | 14.5 ft | - |
| 38 | Round Lake | Kent | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 39 | Pleasant Lake; West Bloomfield Township | Oakland | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 40 | Lake Bellaire | Antrim | NR | 8.8 ft | - |
| 41 | Baldwins Lake | Cass | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 42 | Round Lake | Lenawee | NR | 12.5 ft | - |
| 43 | Elk Lake | Antrim | NR | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have longnose gar?
Longnose Gar are found in 43 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best longnose gar lakes in Michigan?
The best longnose gar lakes in Michigan by water quality are Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township, Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township, Round Lake, Round Lake Central Basin, Houghton Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.