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LakeQuality

Bluegill Lakes in Michigan

Found in 174 Michigan lakes · 1,427 in Minnesota

Bluegill is panfish — the family of smaller, abundant species that anchor kid-friendly fishing and ice-fishing in Michigan. Documented in 1,601 lakes across our dataset. Bluegill is widely distributed: 1,427 lakes in Minnesota and 174 in Michigan. That breadth means anglers across most of the coverage area can find a documented Bluegill lake within a reasonable drive.

Panfish species like Bluegill tolerate a wide range of water quality, so their presence in a lake says less about the lake than the absence of a game-fish would. Cross-reference the Bluegill lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Bluegill documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

174
Michigan Lakes
A
Avg. Grade
36
Grade A Lakes
10
Counties

Bluegill Lakes Map

Every Michigan lake with documented bluegill, colored by water-quality grade.

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Best Bluegill Lakes in Michigan

RankLakeCountyGradeClarityDepth
1Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman TownshipClareA15 ft-
2Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake TownshipLakeA8 ft-
3Silver LakeWashtenawA11.5 ft-
4Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay TownshipGrand TraverseA13 ft-
5Long Lake South Central BasinCassA10.5 ft-
6Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover TownshipJacksonA11.8 ft-
7Kimball Lake Central Basin; Garfield TownshipNewaygoA4.5 ft-
8Gun Lake Central Basin; Freesoil TownshipMasonA14 ft-
9Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine TownshipBenzieA8 ft-
10Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson TownshipMontcalmA16 ft-
11Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan TownshipKentA7.2 ft-
12Clear Lake East Basin; Waterloo TownshipJacksonA10 ft-
13Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield TownshipKentA11.5 ft-
14Round LakeBenzieA15 ft-
15Crystal LakeHillsdaleA9.5 ft-
16Arbutus Lake South Central BasinGrand TraverseA19 ft-
17Cub Lake Central BasinKalkaskaA19 ft-
18Otter LakeBenzieA12 ft-
19Duck Lake North Basin; Watersmeet TownshipGogebicA9.5 ft-
20Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake TownshipGrand TraverseA23.8 ft-
21Emerald LakeKentA12 ft-
22Perch LakeOtsegoA11.3 ft-
23Fishers Lake North Central Basin; Park TownshipSt. JosephA10.5 ft-
24Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke TownshipAlpenaA16 ft-
25Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw TownshipVan BurenA17 ft-
26Devils Lake Central Basin NorthLenaweeA10.8 ft-
27Twin LakesOaklandA5 ft-
28Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire TownshipBenzieA16 ft-
29Twin Lakes; Grayling TwpCrawfordA19 ft-
30Pleasant Lake Northwest Basin; Freedom TownshipWashtenawA5.8 ft-
31Round Lake Central BasinLenaweeA12 ft-
32Loon Lake; Lake TwpBenzieA12 ft-
33Lime LakeBenzieA17.5 ft-
34Long LakeGogebicA12 ft-
35Shingle Lake South Basin; Lincoln TownshipClareA--
36Lake George; Central Deep Basin; Lincoln TownshipClareA--
37Loon LakeBenzieB12.1 ft-
38Bass LakeLeelanauB11.2 ft-
39Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter TownshipWashtenawB13 ft-
40Lake GeorgeKeweenawB8 ft-
41Tamarack Lake North Basin; Hamburg TownshipLivingstonB7 ft-
42Fox LakeCharlevoixB5 ft-
43Barneys LakeCharlevoixB10 ft-
44Posey Lake Central Basin; Hudson TownshipLenaweeB5 ft-
45Crystal Lake; East Central Basin; Watersmeet TownshipGogebicB11 ft-
46Stager Lake Central BasinIronB13 ft-
47Crooked LakeEmmetB--
48North PondChippewaB--
49Rose LakeShiawasseeD5 ft-
50Round LakeShiawasseeD6 ft-

Showing top 50 of 174 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have bluegill?

Bluegill are found in 174 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).

What are the best bluegill lakes in Michigan?

The best bluegill lakes in Michigan by water quality are Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township, Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township, Silver Lake, Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township, Long Lake South Central Basin.

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.