shortnose gar Lakes in Minnesota

Found in 20 Minnesota 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.

Minnesota Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Best shortnose gar Lakes in Minnesota

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Elkhorn Lake	Kandiyohi	A	14 ft	41 ft
2	Florida Lake	Kandiyohi	B	12.3 ft	40 ft
3	Fireman'S Lake	Carver	B	10.7 ft	23 ft
4	Lake St. Croix	Washington	B	5.2 ft	78 ft
5	St. Croix Lake	Washington	C	8.7 ft	78 ft
6	Pool of Lake St. Croix	Washington	C	4.3 ft	78 ft
7	Pool on Lake St. Croix	Washington	C	5.9 ft	78 ft
8	Games Lake	Kandiyohi	C	5.2 ft	42 ft
9	German Lake	Le Sueur	D	3.5 ft	51 ft
10	Little Spirit Lake	Jackson	D	3.3 ft	8 ft
11	Winona Lake	Winona	D	2.6 ft	38 ft
12	Madison Lake	Blue Earth	D	4 ft	59 ft
13	Round Lake	Jackson	D	2 ft	9 ft
14	Norway Lake	Kandiyohi	D	2.4 ft	42 ft
15	Willmar Lake	Kandiyohi	D	2 ft	14 ft
16	Loon Lake	Jackson	F	0.9 ft	8 ft
17	Pepin Lake	Pepin	F	3 ft	60 ft
18	Pearl Lake	Jackson	F	1 ft	6 ft
19	Titlow Lake	Sibley	F	0.3 ft	-
20	High Island Lake	Sibley	F	2.1 ft	6.5 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Minnesota lakes have shortnose gar?

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

What are the best shortnose gar lakes in Minnesota?

The best shortnose gar lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Elkhorn Lake, Florida Lake, Fireman'S Lake, Lake St. Croix, St. Croix Lake.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.