shortnose gar Lakes in Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan

Other SpeciesFound in 20 lakes

shortnose gar is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 20 lakes carry documentation. shortnose gar is narrowly distributed — only 20 lakes 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 shortnose gar lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and shortnose gar documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota lakes →

Avg. Grade

40 ft

Avg. Depth

Water Quality of shortnose gar Lakes

15%

20%

35%

25%

Best shortnose gar Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with shortnose gar ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Elkhorn Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	A	41 ft	15
2	Florida Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	B	40 ft	18
3	Fireman'S Lake	Carver	MN	B	23 ft	8
4	Lake St. Croix	Washington	MN	B	78 ft	36
5	St. Croix Lake	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
6	Pool of Lake St. Croix	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
7	Pool on Lake St. Croix	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
8	Games Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	C	42 ft	15
9	German Lake	Le Sueur	MN	D	51 ft	19
10	Little Spirit Lake	Jackson	MN	D	8 ft	23
11	Winona Lake	Winona	MN	D	38 ft	24
12	Madison Lake	Blue Earth	MN	D	59 ft	20
13	Round Lake	Jackson	MN	D	9 ft	17
14	Norway Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	D	42 ft	15
15	Willmar Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	D	14 ft	18
16	Loon Lake	Jackson	MN	F	8 ft	18
17	Pepin Lake	Pepin	MN	F	60 ft	47
18	Pearl Lake	Jackson	MN	F	6 ft	14
19	Titlow Lake	Sibley	MN	F	-	8
20	High Island Lake	Sibley	MN	F	6.5 ft	11

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have shortnose gar?

shortnose gar are found in 20 graded lakes: 20 in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of lakes with shortnose gar is D (Poor).

What are the best lakes for shortnose gar?

The best shortnose gar lakes by water quality are Elkhorn Lake, Florida Lake, Fireman'S Lake, Lake St. Croix, St. Croix Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where shortnose gar have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with shortnose gar?

shortnose gar are most commonly found alongside black bullhead, black crappie, common carp, bluegill, northern pike. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in shortnose gar Lakes

Black bullhead Lakes

Found together in 19 lakes · 28 total

Black Crappie Lakes

Found together in 19 lakes · 41 total

Common carp Lakes

Found together in 19 lakes · 6 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 18 lakes · 240 total

Northern pike Lakes

Found together in 18 lakes · 99 total

Walleye Lakes

Found together in 18 lakes · 840 total

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.