Best longnose gar lakes in Missouri
9 Missouri waters list longnose gar (official records or labelled estimates). 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.
- Harry S. Truman Reservoir — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #1: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
- Gasconade River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel CatfishWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 15 public access sites
- Current River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Longnose GarWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
- Meramec River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 15 public access sites
- Missouri River — 40 ft max · Sauger, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Blue CatfishWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites
- Big River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Longnose GarWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
- James River — 9 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Longnose GarWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
- Niangua River — 9 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Longnose GarWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites
- Creve Coeur Lake — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
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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 Missouri waters with public access data
When to fish longnose gar in Missouri
- 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 Missouri: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best brown trout lakes
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