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Best longnose gar lakes in Kentucky

11 Kentucky waters hold longnose gar, 1 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Prehistoric surface predator of warm backwaters. A summer sight-fishing riot on rope lures.

1. Lake Barkley — 54 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, Bluegill
2. Kentucky Lake — 75 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
3. Ohio River — McAlpine Pool — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
4. Ohio River — Cannelton Pool — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
5. Kentucky River (Palisades) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Channel Catfish
6. Ohio River — Markland Pool — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
7. Ohio River — Meldahl Pool — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
8. Ohio River — Greenup Pool — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie
9. Ohio River — Newburgh Pool — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, Channel Catfish
10. Ohio River — J.T. Myers Pool — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, Channel Catfish
11. Green River (Mammoth Cave) — 15 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Muskellunge, Longnose Gar

When to fish longnose gar in Kentucky

• Spring 2–10 ft — Fish gather in warm shallow backwaters ahead of the spawn.
• Summer 1–12 ft — Look for fish rolling on the surface in slack water — cast past and drag through.
• Fall 4–15 ft — Following bait into deeper slack water as temps fall.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Wintering in deep, still holes.

Also in Kentucky: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best sauger lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best rock bass lakes

Longnose Gar elsewhere: Indiana · Wisconsin · Texas · Tennessee · Missouri