Spotted gar Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Other SpeciesFound in 28 lakes

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. 28 lakes carry documentation. Spotted gar is narrowly distributed — only 0 Minnesota lakes and 28 Wisconsin lakes 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 Spotted gar lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Spotted gar documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Avg. Grade

Water Quality of Spotted gar Lakes

29%

36%

29%

Best Spotted gar Lakes by Water Quality

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

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
2	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	A	-	40
3	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
4	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	A	-	15
5	Long Lake	Cheboygan	MI	A	-	40
6	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	MI	A	-	15
7	Long Lake; Lake Township; Section 31	Benzie	MI	A	-	40
8	Duck Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Fruitland Township	Muskegon	MI	A	-	22
9	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	MI	B	-	15
10	Duck Lake	Muskegon	MI	B	-	22
11	Round Lake; Independence Township; Section 2	Oakland	MI	B	-	37
12	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	B	-	40
13	Lake of the Woods	Branch	MI	B	-	16
14	Silver Lake	Genesee	MI	B	-	15
15	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	B	-	37
16	Long Lake	Benzie	MI	B	-	40
17	Sugarloaf Lake; Lyndon Twp	Washtenaw	MI	B	-	2
18	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	B	-	40
19	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	C	-	26
20	Round Lake	Mecosta	MI	C	-	37
21	Silver Lake	Van Buren	MI	C	-	15
22	Round Lake	Kent	MI	C	-	37
23	Sugarloaf Lake	Washtenaw	MI	C	-	2
24	Duck Lake	Muskegon	MI	C	-	22
25	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	C	-	37
26	North Pond	Chippewa	MI	C	-	11
27	South Pond	Chippewa	MI	D	-	6
28	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	D	-	37

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have spotted gar?

Spotted gar are found in 28 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 0 in Minnesota and 28 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with spotted gar is B (Good).

What are the best lakes for spotted gar?

The best spotted gar lakes by water quality are Round Lake, Long Lake, Round Lake, Silver Lake, Long Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades 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 pumpkinseed, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, yellow perch, largemouth bass. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.