Blackchin Shiner Fishing Guide, 72 Best-Graded Lakes

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. 72 lakes carry documentation. Blackchin Shiner is narrowly distributed — only 72 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 letter grades: 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

49 ft

Avg. Depth

Water Quality of Blackchin Shiner Lakes

15%

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	Hanbury Lake	Dickinson	MI	A	-	17
2	Big Blue Lake	Kalkaska	MI	A	-	17
3	Muskellunge Lake	Kent	MI	A	-	10
4	Murray Lake	Kent	MI	A	-	29
5	Clear Lake	Jackson	MI	A	34 ft	17
6	Round Lake	Lenawee	MI	A	67 ft	25
7	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	MI	A	-	21
8	Gun Lake	Mason	MI	A	22 ft	6
9	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
10	Loon Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	13
11	Spring Lake	Emmet	MI	A	-	15
12	Cranberry Lake	Oakland	MI	B	25 ft	14
13	Sargent Lake	Keweenaw	MI	B	-	1
14	Upper Hamlin Lake	Mason	MI	C	-	6
15	North Pond	Chippewa	MI	C	-	11
16	Chickenbone Lake	Keweenaw	MI	C	-	1
17	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	D	-	37
18	Clifford Lake	Montcalm	MI	NR	-	10
19	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	NR	60 ft	40
20	Hanbury Lake	Dickinson	MI	NR	-	17
21	Chippewa Lake	Mecosta	MI	NR	40 ft	21
22	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	NR	70 ft	25
23	Clear Lake	Ogemaw	MI	NR	50 ft	16
24	Clark Lake	Jackson	MI	NR	50 ft	19
25	Cranberry Lake	Oakland	MI	NR	25 ft	14
26	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	NR	70 ft	26
27	Eagle Lake	Cass	MI	NR	35 ft	22
28	Wall Lake	Barry	MI	NR	36 ft	18
29	Big Bradford Lake	Otsego	MI	NR	-	14
30	Farewell Lake	Jackson	MI	NR	43 ft	18
31	Harwood Lake	Cass	MI	NR	50 ft	11
32	White Lake	Muskegon	MI	NR	-	17
33	Pickerel Lake	Kalkaska	MI	NR	72 ft	29
34	Eagle Lake	Allegan	MI	NR	-	30
35	Evans Lake	Lenawee	MI	NR	42 ft	19
36	Resort Lake	Menominee	MI	NR	41 ft	19
37	White Lake	Oakland	MI	NR	-	17
38	Cool Lake	Lake	MI	NR	43 ft	10
39	Viking Lake	Otsego	MI	NR	25 ft	18
40	Scram Lake	Kent	MI	NR	85 ft	14
41	Round Lake	Lenawee	MI	NR	-	5
42	Fox Lake	Charlevoix	MI	NR	17 ft	9
43	Mud Lake	Oakland	MI	NR	-	12
44	Bloomfield Lake	Oakland	MI	NR	-	17
45	Clear Lake	Oakland	MI	NR	-	16
46	Middle Lake	Lapeer	MI	NR	-	20
47	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	NR	88 ft	40
48	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	NR	15 ft	37
49	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	NR	-	37
50	Long Lake	Benzie	MI	NR	-	40

Showing top 50 of 72 lakes with blackchin shiner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have blackchin shiner?

Blackchin Shiner are found in 72 graded lakes: 72 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 Hanbury Lake, Big Blue Lake, Muskellunge Lake, Murray Lake, Clear 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, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, yellow perch, largemouth bass. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Blackchin Shiner Lakes

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 62 lakes · 1,550 total

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 62 lakes · 160 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 60 lakes · 1,577 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 57 lakes · 2,489 total

Iowa Darter Lakes

Found together in 53 lakes · 126 total

Pumpkinseed Lakes

Found together in 53 lakes · 1,328 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.