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Best longnose gar lakes in Minnesota

23 Minnesota waters list longnose gar (official records or labelled estimates), 19 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.

1. Lake Pepin — 50 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Lac qui Parle Lake — 10 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. St. Croix River — 78 ft · Approximated contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #3: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · 7 public access sites
4. Lake Tetonka — 30 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
5. St. Croix River — 15 ft · Approximated contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, MuskellungeWhy #5: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · 8 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Madison Lake — 50 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Pomme de Terre — 20 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
8. Middle Jefferson — 5 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Mazaska — 45 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
10. German — 50 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
11. West Jefferson — 20 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
12. Ten Mile — 50 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Wells — 5 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Stalker — 90 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Winona (North Bay) — 20 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
16. East Jefferson — 35 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Dudley — 50 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Little Spirit — 5 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Long — 88 ft · Approximated contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #19: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · no verified access record attached
20. Barrett — 25 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Long — 24 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Rose — 37 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 1 more Minnesota waters holding longnose gar.

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When to fish longnose gar in Minnesota

• 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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