Blackchin Shiner Fishing Guide

Other SpeciesDocumented in 73 graded lakes across 1 state

Blackchin Shiner is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 73 lakes carry documentation. Blackchin Shiner is narrowly distributed — only 73 lakes in Michigan have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.

Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the grade on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Blackchin Shiner lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Blackchin Shiner documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

Avg. Grade

Water Quality of Blackchin Shiner Lakes

27%

30%

29%

12%

Best Blackchin Shiner Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with blackchin shiner ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Corey Lake Southeastern Basin; Fabius Township	St. Joseph	MI	A	-	10
2	Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township	Montcalm	MI	A	-	21
3	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	MI	A	-	21
4	Pickerel Lake	Kalkaska	MI	A	-	29
5	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
6	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	A	-	40
7	Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township	Van Buren	MI	A	-	12
8	Eagle Lake	Van Buren	MI	A	-	12
9	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
10	Burt Lake	Cheboygan	MI	A	-	33
11	Long Lake	Cheboygan	MI	A	-	40
12	Spring Lake	Emmet	MI	A	-	15
13	Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	MI	A	-	17
14	Loon Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	13
15	Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township	Jackson	MI	A	-	18
16	Sargent Lake	Keweenaw	MI	A	-	1
17	Gun Lake Central Basin; Freesoil Township	Mason	MI	A	-	6
18	Clear Lake East Basin; Waterloo Township	Jackson	MI	A	-	17
19	Round Lake Central Basin	Lenawee	MI	A	-	25
20	Loon Lake; Lake Twp	Benzie	MI	A	-	13
21	Chippewa Lake	Mecosta	MI	B	-	21
22	Long Lake South Central Basin	Cass	MI	B	-	25
23	Farewell Lake	Jackson	MI	B	-	18
24	Clark Lake	Livingston	MI	B	-	20
25	Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township	Kent	MI	B	-	29
26	Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township	Kent	MI	B	-	14
27	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	B	-	40
28	Eagle Lake	Allegan	MI	B	-	30
29	Lake of the Woods	Branch	MI	B	-	16
30	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	B	-	37
31	Long Lake	Benzie	MI	B	-	40
32	Clear Lake	Jackson	MI	B	-	16
33	Scram Lake	Kent	MI	B	-	14
34	Devils Lake	Lenawee	MI	B	-	27
35	Budd Lake South Basinorth; Hayes Township	Clare	MI	B	-	5
36	Loon Lake	Benzie	MI	B	-	13
37	Mullett Lake	Cheboygan	MI	B	-	23
38	Loon Lake	Oscoda	MI	B	-	13
39	Budd Lake	Clare	MI	B	-	5
40	Round Lake	Lenawee	MI	B	-	23
41	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	B	-	40
42	Wakeley Lake; Central Basin; Grayling Township	Crawford	MI	B	-	10
43	Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township	Cass	MI	C	-	25
44	White Lake	Muskegon	MI	C	-	17
45	Middle Lake	Lapeer	MI	C	-	20
46	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	C	-	26
47	Kimball Lake Central Basin; Garfield Township	Newaygo	MI	C	-	21
48	Wall Lake	Barry	MI	C	-	18
49	Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township	Oakland	MI	C	-	14
50	Round Lake	Mecosta	MI	C	-	37

Showing top 50 of 73 lakes with blackchin shiner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have blackchin shiner?

Blackchin Shiner are found in 73 graded lakes: 73 in Michigan. The average water quality grade of lakes with blackchin shiner is B (Good).

What are the best lakes for blackchin shiner?

The best blackchin shiner lakes by water quality are Corey Lake Southeastern Basin; Fabius Township, Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township, Whitefish Lake, Pickerel Lake, Round Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where blackchin shiner have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with blackchin shiner?

Blackchin Shiner are most commonly found alongside blackchin shiner, bluntnose minnow, bluegill, yellow perch, pumpkinseed. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Blackchin Shiner Lakes

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 65 lakes · 171 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 64 lakes · 1,692 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 61 lakes · 1,769 total

Pumpkinseed Lakes

Found together in 58 lakes · 1,391 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 56 lakes · 2,637 total

Iowa Darter Lakes

Found together in 52 lakes · 131 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.