Burbot Lakes in Michigan
Found in 13 Michigan lakes · 128 in Minnesota
Rough fish like Burbot are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 141 Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Burbot is moderately distributed — 128 lakes in Minnesota and 13 in Michigan. Some counties have it, others do not, so checking the per-lake pages matters.
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 Burbot lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Burbot documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Burbot Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented burbot, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Burbot Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township | Lake | A | 8 ft | - |
| 2 | Crystal Lake | Hillsdale | A | 9.5 ft | - |
| 3 | Otter Lake | Benzie | A | 12 ft | - |
| 4 | Crystal Lake; East Central Basin; Watersmeet Township | Gogebic | B | 11 ft | - |
| 5 | Crystal Lake | Montcalm | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 6 | Big Star Lake | Lake | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 7 | Crystal Lake | Gogebic | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 8 | Crystal Lake | Benzie | NR | 32 ft | - |
| 9 | Otter Lake | Oakland | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 10 | Crystal Lake | Hillsdale | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Otter Lake | Benzie | NR | 12 ft | - |
| 12 | Elk Lake | Antrim | NR | 14.5 ft | - |
| 13 | Elk Lake | Antrim | NR | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have burbot?
Burbot are found in 13 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).
What are the best burbot lakes in Michigan?
The best burbot lakes in Michigan by water quality are Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township, Crystal Lake, Otter Lake, Crystal Lake; East Central Basin; Watersmeet Township, Crystal Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.