Spotted Gar Lakes in Michigan, 27 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. 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.

Michigan Lakes

Counties

Spotted Gar Lakes Map

Every Michigan lake with documented spotted gar.

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Best Spotted Gar Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Clarity	Depth
1	Duck Lake	Muskegon	11 ft	-
2	Round Lake	Benzie	15 ft	-
3	Sugarloaf Lake	Washtenaw	9.5 ft	10 ft
4	North Pond	Chippewa	1.3 ft	-
5	South Pond	Chippewa	1.4 ft	-
6	Round Lake	Shiawassee	6 ft	-
7	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	12.5 ft	-
8	Long Lake	Gogebic	12 ft	60 ft
9	Silver Lake	Van Buren	9.5 ft	-
10	Shavehead Lake	Cass	8.5 ft	70 ft
11	Duck Lake	Calhoun	12 ft	50 ft
12	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	12.5 ft	-
13	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	24.3 ft	88 ft
14	Round Lake	Oakland	10.5 ft	15 ft
15	Round Lake	Oakland	10 ft	-
16	Long Lake	Benzie	9 ft	-
17	Silver Lake	Genesee	12 ft	-
18	South Lake	Lenawee	9.8 ft	-
19	Lake of the Woods	Branch	10 ft	70 ft
20	Silver Lake	Lenawee	11 ft	26 ft
21	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	11.5 ft	-
22	Round Lake	Shiawassee	6.5 ft	-
23	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	32 ft	91 ft
24	Long Lake	Cheboygan	18 ft	61 ft
25	Round Lake	Kent	8 ft	-
26	Duck Lake	Muskegon	8.5 ft	-
27	Lehr Lake	Branch	-	-

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have spotted gar?

Spotted Gar are found in 27 lakes in Michigan.

What are the best spotted gar lakes in Michigan?

The best spotted gar lakes in Michigan by water quality are Duck Lake, Round Lake, Sugarloaf Lake, North Pond, South Pond.

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.