They have historically ranged from North Dakota in the northwest of the United States south to New Mexico in the southwest, east to Florida in the southeast, and north to  40°N latitude (they have historically been seen no farther north than the lower New York Harbor).
They were not seen in many of the Great Lakes until the late 1800s and early 1900s, although they are suspected to be endemic to Lake Erie, reaching it after the last ice age.
Gizzard shad typically live in lakes and reservoirs, although they can live in rivers and streams, and brackish waters.
They reside in the limnetic zone, and can comprise up to 80% of fish biomass in certain lake systems.
They prefer shallow lakes with muddy bottoms and relatively high turbidity.
This may be due in part to their breeding preferences, but it probably arises from because they have lower survival rates in clear waters and waters with high vegetative cover.
They have historically ranged from North Dakota in the northwest of the United States south to New Mexico in the southwest, east to Florida in the southeast, and north to  40°N latitude (they have historically been seen no farther north than the lower New York Harbor). They were not seen in many of the Great Lakes until the late 1800s and early 1900s, although they are suspected to be endemic to Lake Erie, reaching it after the last ice age. Gizzard shad typically live in lakes and reservoirs, although they can live in rivers and streams, and brackish waters. They reside in the limnetic zone, and can comprise up to 80% of fish biomass in certain lake systems. They prefer shallow lakes with muddy bottoms and relatively high turbidity. This may be due in part to their breeding preferences, but it probably arises from because they have lower survival rates in clear waters and waters with high vegetative cover.
American gizzard shad