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Best longnose gar lakes in Louisiana

10 Louisiana waters hold longnose gar, 7 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. Toledo Bend Reservoir — 110 ft max · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
2. Mississippi River — Vicksburg — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish
3. Vermilion River — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
4. Caddo Lake — 27 ft max · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
5. Amite River — 58 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
6. Atchafalaya River — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
7. Lower Atchafalaya River — 102 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
8. Lower Old River — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
9. Belle River — 23 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
10. Tangipahoa River — 23 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish

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When to fish longnose gar in Louisiana

• 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 Louisiana: best largemouth bass lakes · best white bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes

Longnose Gar elsewhere: Ontario · Wisconsin · Minnesota · Québec · Michigan · Indiana · Texas · Florida · Missouri · Mississippi · Kentucky · Tennessee · Georgia · Virginia · North Carolina · South Carolina