Central mudminnow Lakes in Michigan

Found in 60 Michigan 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. 60 lakes carry documentation. Central mudminnow is narrowly distributed — only 60 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 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.

Michigan Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Best Central mudminnow Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township	Clare	A	15 ft	-
2	Windover Lake	Clare	A	15 ft	-
3	Blue Lake	Iron	A	20.5 ft	-
4	Twin Lake	Kalkaska	A	23 ft	-
5	Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township	Montcalm	A	16 ft	-
6	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	A	16.8 ft	-
7	Cub Lake Central Basin	Kalkaska	A	19 ft	-
8	Round Lake	Benzie	A	15 ft	-
9	Bear Lake Southeast Basin	Kalkaska	A	36.5 ft	-
10	Lake Margrethe	Crawford	A	16 ft	-
11	Indian Lake Northeast Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	15.5 ft	-
12	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	A	24 ft	-
13	Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township	Alpena	A	16 ft	-
14	Round Lake	Benzie	A	15 ft	-
15	Burt Lake	Cheboygan	A	15.5 ft	-
16	Papoose Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	21 ft	-
17	Papoose Lake	Kalkaska	A	20 ft	-
18	Long Lake	Cheboygan	A	18 ft	-
19	Douglas Lake	Otsego	A	16.5 ft	-
20	Susan Lake	Charlevoix	A	-	-
21	Walloon Lake	Emmet	A	-	-
22	Crooked Lake	Emmet	A	-	-
23	Spring Lake	Emmet	A	-	-
24	Elk Lake	Antrim	A	-	-
25	Loon Lake	Benzie	A	12.1 ft	-
26	Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township	Jackson	A	11.8 ft	-
27	Duck Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Fruitland Township	Muskegon	A	10.5 ft	-
28	Loon Lake; Lake Twp	Benzie	A	12 ft	-
29	Farewell Lake	Jackson	B	11.5 ft	-
30	Duck Lake	Muskegon	B	10.5 ft	-
31	Long Lake	Gogebic	B	11.5 ft	-
32	Lake of the Woods	Branch	B	10 ft	-
33	Round Lake	Oakland	B	10 ft	-
34	Long Lake	Benzie	B	11.5 ft	-
35	Blue Lake	Mecosta	B	10 ft	-
36	Crooked Lake	Barry	B	10 ft	-
37	Loon Lake	Benzie	B	12 ft	-
38	Bass Lake North Basin; Forsyth Township	Marquette	B	12.5 ft	-
39	Elk Lake	Antrim	B	14.5 ft	-
40	Douglas Lake	Cheboygan	B	12 ft	-
41	Loon Lake	Oscoda	B	14.5 ft	-
42	Pettibone Lake North Basin	Newaygo	B	11.5 ft	-
43	Long Lake	Gogebic	B	12 ft	-
44	Duck Lake North Basin; Watersmeet Township	Gogebic	B	9.5 ft	-
45	Wakeley Lake; Central Basin; Grayling Township	Crawford	B	6.5 ft	-
46	Tamarack Lake	Livingston	C	8 ft	-
47	Cedar Lake	Alcona	C	8 ft	-
48	Duck Lake	Gogebic	C	9.5 ft	-
49	Round Lake	Mecosta	C	8.5 ft	-
50	Round Lake	Kent	C	8 ft	-

Showing top 50 of 60 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have central mudminnow?

Central mudminnow are found in 60 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).

What are the best central mudminnow lakes in Michigan?

The best central mudminnow lakes in Michigan by water quality are Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township, Windover Lake, Blue Lake, Twin Lake, Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.