Blackside Darter Lakes in Michigan
Found in 12 Michigan lakes
Blackside Darter is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 12 lakes carry documentation. Blackside Darter is narrowly distributed — only 12 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 Blackside Darter lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Blackside Darter documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Blackside Darter Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented blackside darter, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Blackside Darter Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | A | 10 ft | - |
| 2 | Long Lake | Gogebic | A | 12 ft | - |
| 3 | Tamarack Lake North Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | B | 7 ft | - |
| 4 | Sanford Lake | Benzie | NR | 15.8 ft | - |
| 5 | Long Lake | Cass | NR | 10.5 ft | - |
| 6 | Long Lake | Gogebic | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 7 | Long Lake | Benzie | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 8 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | NR | 24 ft | - |
| 9 | Baldwin Lake Northwest Basin | Cass | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 10 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 18 ft | - |
| 11 | Baldwins Lake | Cass | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 12 | Sanford Lake | Benzie | NR | 14.5 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have blackside darter?
Blackside Darter are found in 12 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).
What are the best blackside darter lakes in Michigan?
The best blackside darter lakes in Michigan by water quality are Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township, Long Lake, Tamarack Lake North Basin; Hamburg Township, Sanford Lake, Long Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.