Brook Stickleback Lakes in Michigan
Found in 21 Michigan lakes
Rough fish like Brook Stickleback are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 21 Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Brook Stickleback is narrowly distributed — only 21 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 Stickleback lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Brook Stickleback documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Brook Stickleback Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented brook stickleback.
Best Brook Stickleback Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duck Lake | Muskegon | 11 ft | - |
| 2 | Round Lake | Lenawee | 12.3 ft | 67 ft |
| 3 | Round Lake | Benzie | 15 ft | - |
| 4 | Beaver Lake | Keweenaw | 8.9 ft | - |
| 5 | Beaver Lake | Alger | 14.5 ft | 39 ft |
| 6 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | 6 ft | - |
| 7 | Blue Lake | Kalkaska | 24 ft | 80 ft |
| 8 | Blue Lake | Mecosta | 10.5 ft | 50 ft |
| 9 | Big Bradford Lake | Otsego | 22 ft | - |
| 10 | Tamarack Lake | Livingston | 7 ft | 34 ft |
| 11 | Cool Lake | Lake | 19.5 ft | 43 ft |
| 12 | Font Lake | Charlevoix | 5 ft | 7 ft |
| 13 | Round Lake | Oakland | 10.5 ft | 15 ft |
| 14 | Round Lake | Oakland | 10 ft | - |
| 15 | Blue Lake | Iron | 21.5 ft | - |
| 16 | Duck Lake | Grand Traverse | 15 ft | 98 ft |
| 17 | Wallace Lake | Keweenaw | - | - |
| 18 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | 6.5 ft | - |
| 19 | Round Lake | Kent | 8 ft | - |
| 20 | Bass Lake | Marquette | 11.8 ft | 78 ft |
| 21 | Duck Lake | Muskegon | 8.5 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have brook stickleback?
Brook Stickleback are found in 21 lakes in Michigan.
What are the best brook stickleback lakes in Michigan?
The best brook stickleback lakes in Michigan by water quality are Duck Lake, Round Lake, Round Lake, Beaver Lake, Beaver Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.