Blackchin Shiner Fishing Guide: 72 Lakes by Water Quality

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 phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings 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 each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Blackchin Shiner documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

49 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Blackchin Shiner Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with blackchin shiner, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

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

Showing top 50 of 72 lakes with blackchin shiner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have blackchin shiner?

Blackchin Shiner are documented in 72 lakes: 72 in Michigan.

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 carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings 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 readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.