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Best longnose gar lakes in North Carolina

10 North Carolina waters hold longnose gar, 9 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. Cape Fear River — Reach 1 of 2 — 52 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
2. Great Pee Dee River — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
3. Roanoke River — 20 ft max · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
4. Cape Fear River — Reach 2 of 2 — 56 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
5. North Landing River — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
6. Southern Branch Elizabeth River — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
7. Elizabeth River — 67 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
8. North River — 29 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
9. Northeast Cape Fear River — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
10. Shallotte River — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass

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When to fish longnose gar in North Carolina

• 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 North Carolina: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best striped bass lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best spotted bass lakes · best white perch lakes

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