Bowfin Lakes in Michigan
Found in 18 Michigan lakes
Bowfin is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 18 lakes carry documentation. Bowfin is narrowly distributed — only 18 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 Bowfin lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Bowfin documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Bowfin Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented bowfin, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Bowfin Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township | Kent | A | 7.2 ft | - |
| 2 | Clear Lake East Basin; Waterloo Township | Jackson | A | 10 ft | - |
| 3 | Bass Lake | Leelanau | B | 11.2 ft | - |
| 4 | Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | B | 13 ft | - |
| 5 | Bass Lake | Livingston | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 6 | Bass Lake | Montcalm | NR | 10.8 ft | - |
| 7 | Whitmore Lake | Livingston | NR | 9 ft | - |
| 8 | Wall Lake | Barry | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 9 | Paw Paw Lake | Hillsdale | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 10 | Pickerel Lake | Kalkaska | NR | 15 ft | - |
| 11 | Paw Paw Lake | Kalamazoo | NR | 9 ft | - |
| 12 | Clear Lake | Jackson | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 13 | Paw Paw Lake | Hillsdale | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 14 | Diamond Lake | Osceola | NR | 16 ft | - |
| 15 | Burt Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 15.5 ft | - |
| 16 | Pickerel Lake | Emmet | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 17 | Bass Lake | Marquette | NR | 12 ft | - |
| 18 | Bass Lake | Livingston | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have bowfin?
Bowfin are found in 18 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).
What are the best bowfin lakes in Michigan?
The best bowfin lakes in Michigan by water quality are Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township, Clear Lake East Basin; Waterloo Township, Bass Lake, Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township, Bass Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.