Central mudminnow Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Other SpeciesFound in 67 lakes

Central mudminnow is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 67 lakes carry documentation. Central mudminnow is narrowly distributed — only 0 Minnesota lakes and 67 Wisconsin lakes 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 Central mudminnow lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Central mudminnow documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Avg. Grade

Water Quality of Central mudminnow Lakes

46%

27%

16%

Best Central mudminnow Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with central mudminnow ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township	Clare	MI	A	-	8
2	Windover Lake	Clare	MI	A	-	8
3	Blue Lake	Iron	MI	A	-	3
4	Blue Lake; Mastodon Township; Section 8	Iron	MI	A	-	3
5	Twin Lake	Kalkaska	MI	A	-	13
6	Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township	Montcalm	MI	A	-	21
7	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	MI	A	-	21
8	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
9	Bear Lake Southeast Basin	Kalkaska	MI	A	-	9
10	Cub Lake Central Basin	Kalkaska	MI	A	-	14
11	Lake Margrethe	Crawford	MI	A	-	21
12	Indian Lake Northeast Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	MI	A	-	11
13	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	A	-	40
14	Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township	Alpena	MI	A	-	15
15	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
16	Burt Lake	Cheboygan	MI	A	-	33
17	Papoose Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	MI	A	-	7
18	Papoose Lake	Kalkaska	MI	A	-	7
19	Long Lake	Cheboygan	MI	A	-	40
20	Douglas Lake	Otsego	MI	A	-	22
21	Susan Lake	Charlevoix	MI	A	-	12
22	Walloon Lake	Emmet	MI	A	-	20
23	Crooked Lake	Emmet	MI	A	-	26
24	Spring Lake	Emmet	MI	A	-	15
25	Elk Lake	Antrim	MI	A	-	27
26	Loon Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	13
27	Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township	Jackson	MI	A	-	18
28	Pickerel Lake East Central Basin; Garfield Township Sec. 1	Newaygo	MI	A	-	21
29	Long Lake; Lake Township; Section 31	Benzie	MI	A	-	40
30	Duck Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Fruitland Township	Muskegon	MI	A	-	22
31	Loon Lake; Lake Twp	Benzie	MI	A	-	13
32	Farewell Lake	Jackson	MI	B	-	18
33	Duck Lake	Muskegon	MI	B	-	22
34	Round Lake; Independence Township; Section 2	Oakland	MI	B	-	37
35	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	B	-	40
36	Lake of the Woods	Branch	MI	B	-	16
37	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	B	-	37
38	Long Lake	Benzie	MI	B	-	40
39	Blue Lake	Mecosta	MI	B	-	3
40	Crooked Lake	Barry	MI	B	-	27
41	Loon Lake	Benzie	MI	B	-	13
42	Bass Lake North Basin; Forsyth Township	Marquette	MI	B	-	16
43	Elk Lake	Antrim	MI	B	-	27
44	Douglas Lake	Cheboygan	MI	B	-	22
45	Loon Lake	Oscoda	MI	B	-	13
46	Pettibone Lake North Basin	Newaygo	MI	B	-	5
47	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	B	-	40
48	Duck Lake North Basin; Watersmeet Township	Gogebic	MI	B	-	16
49	Wakeley Lake; Central Basin; Grayling Township	Crawford	MI	B	-	10
50	Tamarack Lake	Livingston	MI	C	-	6

Showing top 50 of 67 lakes with central mudminnow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have central mudminnow?

Central mudminnow are found in 67 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 0 in Minnesota and 67 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with central mudminnow is B (Good).

What are the best lakes for central mudminnow?

The best central mudminnow lakes by water quality are Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township, Windover Lake, Blue Lake, Blue Lake; Mastodon Township; Section 8, Twin Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where central mudminnow have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with central mudminnow?

Central mudminnow are most commonly found alongside yellow perch, bluegill, largemouth bass, bluntnose minnow, pumpkinseed. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.