Blackchin shiner Lakes in Michigan

Found in 73 Michigan 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. 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.

Michigan Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Best Blackchin shiner Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Corey Lake Southeastern Basin; Fabius Township	St. Joseph	A	16 ft	-
2	Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township	Montcalm	A	16 ft	-
3	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	A	16.8 ft	-
4	Pickerel Lake	Kalkaska	A	15 ft	-
5	Round Lake	Benzie	A	15 ft	-
6	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	A	24 ft	-
7	Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township	Van Buren	A	17 ft	-
8	Eagle Lake	Van Buren	A	15 ft	-
9	Round Lake	Benzie	A	15 ft	-
10	Burt Lake	Cheboygan	A	15.5 ft	-
11	Long Lake	Cheboygan	A	18 ft	-
12	Spring Lake	Emmet	A	-	-
13	Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	-	-
14	Loon Lake	Benzie	A	12.1 ft	-
15	Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township	Jackson	A	11.8 ft	-
16	Sargent Lake	Keweenaw	A	10.4 ft	-
17	Gun Lake Central Basin; Freesoil Township	Mason	A	14 ft	-
18	Clear Lake East Basin; Waterloo Township	Jackson	A	10 ft	-
19	Round Lake Central Basin	Lenawee	A	12 ft	-
20	Loon Lake; Lake Twp	Benzie	A	12 ft	-
21	Chippewa Lake	Mecosta	B	11.5 ft	-
22	Long Lake South Central Basin	Cass	B	10.5 ft	-
23	Farewell Lake	Jackson	B	11.5 ft	-
24	Clark Lake	Livingston	B	12 ft	-
25	Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township	Kent	B	7.2 ft	-
26	Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township	Kent	B	11.5 ft	-
27	Long Lake	Gogebic	B	11.5 ft	-
28	Eagle Lake	Allegan	B	14 ft	-
29	Lake of the Woods	Branch	B	10 ft	-
30	Round Lake	Oakland	B	10 ft	-
31	Long Lake	Benzie	B	11.5 ft	-
32	Clear Lake	Jackson	B	10 ft	-
33	Scram Lake	Kent	B	10.5 ft	-
34	Devils Lake	Lenawee	B	10.8 ft	-
35	Budd Lake South Basinorth; Hayes Township	Clare	B	14 ft	-
36	Loon Lake	Benzie	B	12 ft	-
37	Mullett Lake	Cheboygan	B	13 ft	-
38	Loon Lake	Oscoda	B	14.5 ft	-
39	Budd Lake	Clare	B	13.5 ft	-
40	Round Lake	Lenawee	B	12.5 ft	-
41	Long Lake	Gogebic	B	12 ft	-
42	Wakeley Lake; Central Basin; Grayling Township	Crawford	B	6.5 ft	-
43	Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township	Cass	C	7 ft	-
44	White Lake	Muskegon	C	6.8 ft	-
45	Middle Lake	Lapeer	C	9 ft	-
46	Shavehead Lake	Cass	C	7 ft	-
47	Kimball Lake Central Basin; Garfield Township	Newaygo	C	4.5 ft	-
48	Wall Lake	Barry	C	9.5 ft	-
49	Cranberry Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Independence Township	Oakland	C	8 ft	-
50	Round Lake	Mecosta	C	8.5 ft	-

Showing top 50 of 73 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have blackchin shiner?

Blackchin shiner are found in 73 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).

What are the best blackchin shiner lakes in Michigan?

The best blackchin shiner lakes in Michigan by water quality are Corey Lake Southeastern Basin; Fabius Township, Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township, Whitefish Lake, Pickerel Lake, Round Lake.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.