Best longnose gar lakes in Michigan
200 Michigan waters list longnose gar (official records or labelled estimates), 200 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — 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.
- Black Lake — 50 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- Indian River — 29 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 15 public access sites, 6 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Marble Lake — 60 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
- Round Lake — 67 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, BluegillWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Morrison Lake — 50 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Longnose GarWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Bird Lake — 64 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Hubbell Pond — 15 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
- Osterhout Lake — 30 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Bishop Lake — 54 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Nottawa Lake — 15 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Independence Lake — 30 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Joslin Lake — 20 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Sugarloaf Lake — 10 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Goose Lake — 60 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- Bass Lake — 25 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Bruin Lake — 48 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Rush Lake — 58 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Upper Jeptha Lake — 40 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Crispell Lake — 25 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- School Section Lake — 40 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Lower Proud Lake — 37 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Indian Lake — 14 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Lower Pettibone Lake — 41 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Green Lake — 11 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Pleasant Lake — 52 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
…plus 175 more Michigan waters holding longnose gar.
Find the closest longnose gar waters to you →
How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See Michigan waters with public access data
When to fish longnose gar in Michigan
- 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.
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