Skip to main content

Longnose Gar

Longnose Gar

The Longnose Gar is Oklahoma's second-largest gar species, a prehistoric fish that is an apex predator found throughout the state.

Scientific Name: Lepisosteus osseus

Physical Characteristics:
  • Reaching lengths up to 64.5 inches and weights exceeding 43 pounds.
  • Distinguished by their extremely long, narrow snouts (18-20 times as long as they are wide) filled with needle-like teeth, torpedo-shaped bodies armored with diamond-shaped ganoid scales, and olive-brown to green coloration with scattered spots on fins.
  • Females grow larger and live longer than males, with sexual dimorphism evident in adult fish.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Native throughout Oklahoma and found in major rivers and reservoirs where they coexist with alligator gar.

Key Locations

  • Major rivers including the Red River, Arkansas River, North Fork Red River, and reservoirs like Lake Texoma and Eufaula Lake (where the state record was caught).

Specific Spots

  • Focus on areas just below dams, weedy bends, backwaters, and deep eddy pools where current breaks create calm water.
  • They inhabit slow-moving waters, backwaters, and sluggish streams, preferring areas around downed trees, stone outcrops, and vegetation.
  • Target transition areas with rapid depth changes, vegetated flats, and areas around bridges and docks in lakes and reservoirs.

Longnose Gar FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Longnose Gar in Oklahoma?

Small live baits like minnows, shiners, or bluegill. Cut bait and dead minnows also work well. For lures, try 3-4 inch shallow-running crankbaits, inline spinners, spoons, and jigs retrieved slowly across their field of vision.

What flies work for Longnose Gar in Oklahoma?

Small streamers, Clouser's Swimming Nymphs, damselfly nymphs, Woolly Buggers, and Crazy Charlies.

How do you catch Longnose Gar in Oklahoma?

Present lures perpendicular to the gar's position, casting past the nose and retrieving across their snout. When sight-fishing, cast to stationary fish lying near structure or suspended fish in ambush positions. Use a strong strip-set when hookup occurs, as their bony mouths are difficult to penetrate.

What do Longnose Gar eat?

Primarily piscivorous, with studies in southwestern Oklahoma showing 98% of their diet consists of fish including gizzard shad, red shiners, drum, bluegill, and black bullhead, plus occasional crayfish and insects.

Where do Longnose Gar live in Oklahoma?

Native throughout Oklahoma and found in major rivers and reservoirs where they coexist with alligator gar.

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Longnose Gar.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Longnose Gar water

    Pick Longnose Gar and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Longnose Gar

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Longnose Gar are.

Open the map, filter by Longnose Gar, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Oklahoma licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.