Brook Silverside Fishing Guide: 43 Lakes by Water Quality

Rough fish like Brook Silverside are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 43 the United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs. LakeQuality covers lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Brook Silverside is narrowly distributed — only 43 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 phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Brook Silverside lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Brook Silverside documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

53 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Brook Silverside Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with brook silverside, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Ore Lake	Livingston	MI	81 ft	14
2	Murray Lake	Kent	MI	-	29
3	Round Lake	Lenawee	MI	67 ft	25
4	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	-	37
5	Cordley Lake	Livingston	MI	31 ft	7
6	Tamarack Lake	Livingston	MI	34 ft	20
7	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	-	37
8	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	60 ft	40
9	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	70 ft	25
10	Clark Lake	Jackson	MI	50 ft	19
11	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	70 ft	26
12	Lake Fenton	Genesee	MI	90 ft	22
13	Eagle Lake	Cass	MI	35 ft	22
14	Windover Lake	Clare	MI	60 ft	8
15	Farewell Lake	Jackson	MI	43 ft	18
16	Eagle Lake	Allegan	MI	-	30
17	Evans Lake	Lenawee	MI	42 ft	19
18	Jordan Lake	Barry	MI	-	23
19	Font Lake	Charlevoix	MI	7 ft	8
20	Elizabeth Lake	Oakland	MI	72 ft	1
21	Portage Lake	Jackson	MI	40 ft	34
22	Bloomfield Lake	Oakland	MI	-	17
23	Tan Lake	Oakland	MI	-	2
24	Middle Lake	Lapeer	MI	-	20
25	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	88 ft	40
26	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	15 ft	37
27	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	-	37
28	Long Lake	Benzie	MI	-	40
29	Clark Lake	Livingston	MI	40 ft	20
30	Baldwin Lake	Cass	MI	-	25
31	Long Lake	Cass	MI	42 ft	25
32	Diamond Lake	Newaygo	MI	25 ft	25
33	Baldwins Lake	Cass	MI	55 ft	33
34	Green Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	102 ft	11
35	Rose Lake	Shiawassee	MI	-	17
36	Paw Paw Lake	Hillsdale	MI	-	4
37	Union Lake	Branch	MI	-	22
38	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	-	37
39	Paw Paw Lake	Kalamazoo	MI	50 ft	4
40	Diamond Lake	Osceola	MI	60 ft	25
41	Long Lake	Cheboygan	MI	61 ft	40
42	Round Lake	Kent	MI	-	37
43	Donnell Lake	Cass	MI	-	26

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have brook silverside?

Brook Silverside are documented in 43 lakes: 43 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for brook silverside?

The best brook silverside lakes by water quality are Ore Lake, Murray Lake, Round Lake, Round Lake, Cordley Lake. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where brook silverside have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with brook silverside?

Brook Silverside are most commonly found alongside brook silverside, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, yellow perch, largemouth bass. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Brook Silverside Lakes

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 37 lakes · 1,550 total

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 37 lakes · 160 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 35 lakes · 1,577 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 34 lakes · 2,489 total

Western Banded Killifish Lakes

Found together in 32 lakes · 100 total

Johnny Darter Lakes

Found together in 31 lakes · 98 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.