Best longnose gar lakes in Wisconsin
6 Wisconsin waters hold longnose gar. 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.
- Lake Wisconsin — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugerWhy #1: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 17 public access sites
- St. Croix River — 15 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, MuskellungeWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
- Chippewa River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, MuskellungeWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
- Lower Wisconsin River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Channel CatfishWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Wisconsin River (Dells) — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, CrappieWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Fox River (Lower) — 14 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, MuskellungeWhy #6: 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 Wisconsin waters with public access data
When to fish longnose gar in Wisconsin
- 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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