Longnose Gar Lakes in Minnesota
Found in 12 Minnesota lakes · 39 in Michigan
Rough fish like Longnose Gar are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 51 Minnesota lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. 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.
Longnose Gar Lakes Map
Every Minnesota lake with documented longnose gar.
Best Longnose Gar Lakes in Minnesota
| Rank | Lake | County | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ten Mile Lake | Otter Tail | 13.6 ft | 51 ft |
| 2 | Lake St Croix | Pierce | 7.2 ft | 78 ft |
| 3 | Stalker Lake | Otter Tail | 6.6 ft | 95 ft |
| 4 | Pool | Washington | 5.9 ft | 78 ft |
| 5 | Pool of Lake St Croix | Washington | 4.3 ft | 78 ft |
| 6 | Mazaska Lake | Rice | 2.5 ft | 50 ft |
| 7 | German Lake | Le Sueur | 3.5 ft | 51 ft |
| 8 | Winona Lake | Winona | 2.6 ft | 38 ft |
| 9 | Unnamed Lake | Otter Tail | 15.1 ft | 95 ft |
| 10 | Barrett Lake | Grant | 4 ft | 28 ft |
| 11 | Pepin Lake | Pepin | 3 ft | 60 ft |
| 12 | Lake Jefferson | Le Sueur | 4 ft | 37 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota lakes have longnose gar?
Longnose Gar are found in 12 lakes in Minnesota.
What are the best longnose gar lakes in Minnesota?
The best longnose gar lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Ten Mile Lake, Lake St Croix, Stalker Lake, Pool, Pool of Lake St Croix.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.