Spotted Gar Fishing Guide: 27 Lakes by Water Quality

Spotted Gar is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 27 lakes carry documentation. Spotted Gar is narrowly distributed — only 27 lakes in Michigan 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 Spotted Gar lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Spotted Gar documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

54 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Spotted Gar Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with spotted gar, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Duck Lake	Muskegon	MI	-	22
2	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	-	37
3	Sugarloaf Lake	Washtenaw	MI	10 ft	2
4	North Pond	Chippewa	MI	-	11
5	South Pond	Chippewa	MI	-	6
6	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	-	37
7	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	-	15
8	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	60 ft	40
9	Silver Lake	Van Buren	MI	-	15
10	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	70 ft	26
11	Duck Lake	Calhoun	MI	50 ft	2
12	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	-	15
13	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	88 ft	40
14	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	15 ft	37
15	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	-	37
16	Long Lake	Benzie	MI	-	40
17	Silver Lake	Genesee	MI	-	15
18	South Lake	Lenawee	MI	-	6
19	Lake of the Woods	Branch	MI	70 ft	16
20	Silver Lake	Lenawee	MI	26 ft	15
21	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	MI	-	15
22	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	-	37
23	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	91 ft	15
24	Long Lake	Cheboygan	MI	61 ft	40
25	Round Lake	Kent	MI	-	37
26	Duck Lake	Muskegon	MI	-	22
27	Lehr Lake	Branch	MI	-	9

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have spotted gar?

Spotted Gar are documented in 27 lakes: 27 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for spotted gar?

The best spotted gar lakes by water quality are Duck Lake, Round Lake, Sugarloaf Lake, North Pond, South Pond. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where spotted gar have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with spotted gar?

Spotted Gar are most commonly found alongside spotted gar, pumpkinseed, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, yellow perch. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Spotted Gar Lakes

Pumpkinseed Lakes

Found together in 24 lakes · 1,328 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 23 lakes · 1,550 total

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 23 lakes · 160 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 23 lakes · 1,577 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 22 lakes · 2,489 total

Green Sunfish Lakes

Found together in 22 lakes · 753 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.