Bluntnose Minnow Fishing Guide: 160 Lakes by Water Quality

Bluntnose Minnow is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 160 lakes carry documentation. Bluntnose Minnow is moderately distributed — 160 lakes in Michigan. Some counties have it, others do not, so checking the per-lake pages matters.

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 Bluntnose Minnow lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Bluntnose Minnow documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

160

Total Lakes

160

Michigan lakes →

47 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Bluntnose Minnow Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with bluntnose minnow, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Eagle Lake	Kalkaska	MI	20 ft	5
2	Rennie Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	27 ft	9
3	Emerald Lake	Kent	MI	-	15
4	Hanbury Lake	Dickinson	MI	-	17
5	Lake George	Clare	MI	25 ft	8
6	Derby Lake	Montcalm	MI	87 ft	12
7	Duck Lake	Muskegon	MI	-	22
8	Big Blue Lake	Kalkaska	MI	-	17
9	Muskellunge Lake	Kent	MI	-	10
10	Murray Lake	Kent	MI	-	29
11	Clear Lake	Jackson	MI	34 ft	17
12	Big Star Lake	Lake	MI	-	18
13	Round Lake	Lenawee	MI	67 ft	25
14	Big Twin Lake	Kalkaska	MI	-	9
15	Sylvan Lake	Oakland	MI	-	14
16	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	MI	-	21
17	Gun Lake	Mason	MI	22 ft	6
18	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	-	37
19	Otter Lake	Benzie	MI	-	30
20	Little Platte Lake	Benzie	MI	8 ft	8
21	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	45 ft	9
22	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	-	9
23	Loon Lake	Benzie	MI	-	13
24	Au Sable Lake	Ogemaw	MI	52 ft	11
25	Lime Lake	Benzie	MI	25 ft	15
26	Crooked Lake	Emmet	MI	50 ft	26
27	Spring Lake	Emmet	MI	-	15
28	Cordley Lake	Livingston	MI	31 ft	7
29	Tamarack Lake	Livingston	MI	34 ft	20
30	Bass Lake	Leelanau	MI	-	13
31	Beaver Lake	Keweenaw	MI	-	16
32	Beaver Lake	Alger	MI	39 ft	14
33	Lake George	Keweenaw	MI	-	9
34	Pleasant Lake	Oakland	MI	-	11
35	Walloon Lake	Emmet	MI	-	20
36	Upper Hamlin Lake	Mason	MI	-	6
37	North Pond	Chippewa	MI	-	11
38	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	-	37
39	Sanford Lake	Benzie	MI	-	17
40	Lower Herring Lake	Benzie	MI	50 ft	25
41	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	-	15
42	Lake Bellaire	Antrim	MI	95 ft	22
43	Crooked Lake	Barry	MI	-	27
44	Lake Ann	Benzie	MI	75 ft	10
45	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	60 ft	40
46	Hanbury Lake	Dickinson	MI	-	17
47	Corey Lake	St. Joseph	MI	-	13
48	Chippewa Lake	Mecosta	MI	40 ft	21
49	Pleasant Lake	Wexford	MI	10 ft	11
50	Opal Lake	Otsego	MI	40 ft	11

Showing top 50 of 160 lakes with bluntnose minnow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have bluntnose minnow?

Bluntnose Minnow are documented in 160 lakes: 160 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for bluntnose minnow?

The best bluntnose minnow lakes by water quality are Eagle Lake, Rennie Lake, Emerald Lake, Hanbury Lake, Lake George. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where bluntnose minnow have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with bluntnose minnow?

Bluntnose Minnow are most commonly found alongside bluntnose minnow, yellow perch, bluegill, largemouth bass, iowa darter. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 133 lakes · 1,577 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 127 lakes · 1,550 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 126 lakes · 2,489 total

Iowa Darter Lakes

Found together in 103 lakes · 126 total

Pumpkinseed Lakes

Found together in 98 lakes · 1,328 total

Rock Bass Lakes

Found together in 96 lakes · 786 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.