Brook Stickleback Lakes in Michigan
Found in 19 Michigan lakes
Rough fish like Brook Stickleback are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 19 Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Brook Stickleback is narrowly distributed — only 19 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 Brook Stickleback lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Brook Stickleback documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Brook Stickleback Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented brook stickleback, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Brook Stickleback Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Round Lake | Benzie | A | 15 ft | - |
| 2 | Round Lake Central Basin | Lenawee | A | 12 ft | - |
| 3 | Beaver Lake | Alger | B | 14.7 ft | - |
| 4 | Beaver Lake | Keweenaw | B | 8 ft | - |
| 5 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | D | 6 ft | - |
| 6 | Blue Lake | Iron | NR | 20.5 ft | - |
| 7 | Tamarack Lake | Livingston | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 8 | Duck Lake | Muskegon | NR | 10.5 ft | - |
| 9 | Round Lake | Mecosta | NR | 8.5 ft | - |
| 10 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | NR | 6.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Round Lake | Oakland | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 12 | Blue Lake | Mecosta | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 13 | Round Lake | Benzie | NR | 15 ft | - |
| 14 | Green Lake Southwest Basin; Leighton Township | Allegan | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 15 | Font Lake | Charlevoix | NR | 5 ft | - |
| 16 | Round Lake | Kent | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 17 | Round Lake | Lenawee | NR | 12.5 ft | - |
| 18 | Bass Lake Central Basin; Forsyth Township | Marquette | NR | 11.8 ft | - |
| 19 | Duck Lake | Muskegon | NR | 8.5 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have brook stickleback?
Brook Stickleback are found in 19 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best brook stickleback lakes in Michigan?
The best brook stickleback lakes in Michigan by water quality are Round Lake, Round Lake Central Basin, Beaver Lake, Beaver Lake, Round Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.