Common Shiner Fishing Guide: 68 Lakes by Water Quality

Rough fish like Common Shiner are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 68 the United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs. LakeQuality covers lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Common Shiner is narrowly distributed — only 68 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 Common Shiner lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Common Shiner documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

50 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Common Shiner Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with common shiner, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Hanbury Lake	Dickinson	MI	-	17
2	Duck Lake	Muskegon	MI	-	22
3	Big Blue Lake	Kalkaska	MI	-	17
4	Crystal Lake	Washtenaw	MI	-	16
5	Big Twin Lake	Kalkaska	MI	-	9
6	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	-	37
7	Crystal Lake	Hillsdale	MI	-	16
8	Little Platte Lake	Benzie	MI	8 ft	8
9	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	45 ft	9
10	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	-	9
11	Crooked Lake	Emmet	MI	50 ft	26
12	Cranberry Lake	Oakland	MI	25 ft	14
13	Walloon Lake	Emmet	MI	-	20
14	Portage Lake	St. Joseph	MI	-	3
15	North Pond	Chippewa	MI	-	11
16	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	-	37
17	Sanford Lake	Benzie	MI	-	17
18	Lower Herring Lake	Benzie	MI	50 ft	25
19	Lake Bellaire	Antrim	MI	95 ft	22
20	Crooked Lake	Barry	MI	-	27
21	Lake Ann	Benzie	MI	75 ft	10
22	Hanbury Lake	Dickinson	MI	-	17
23	Opal Lake	Otsego	MI	40 ft	11
24	Brown Lake	Jackson	MI	-	6
25	Cranberry Lake	Oakland	MI	25 ft	14
26	Magician Lake	Cass	MI	-	1
27	Brevoort Lake	Mackinac	MI	-	15
28	Sanford Lake	Midland	MI	20 ft	17
29	Muskellunge Lake	Montcalm	MI	37 ft	12
30	Cedar Lake	Alcona	MI	10 ft	22
31	Duck Lake	Gogebic	MI	25 ft	16
32	Big Bradford Lake	Otsego	MI	-	14
33	Farewell Lake	Jackson	MI	43 ft	18
34	Lake Margrethe	Crawford	MI	65 ft	21
35	Pickerel Lake	Kalkaska	MI	72 ft	29
36	Stager Lake	Iron	MI	55 ft	9
37	Eagle Lake	Allegan	MI	-	30
38	Evans Lake	Lenawee	MI	42 ft	19
39	Cedar Lake	Iosco	MI	-	20
40	Resort Lake	Menominee	MI	41 ft	19
41	Crystal Lake	Gogebic	MI	25 ft	16
42	Viking Lake	Otsego	MI	25 ft	18
43	Scram Lake	Kent	MI	85 ft	14
44	Jordan Lake	Barry	MI	-	23
45	Cedar Lake	Oakland	MI	-	22
46	Portage Lake	Jackson	MI	40 ft	34
47	Crooked Lake	Oakland	MI	60 ft	27
48	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	15 ft	37
49	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	-	37
50	Green Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	102 ft	11

Showing top 50 of 68 lakes with common shiner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have common shiner?

Common Shiner are documented in 68 lakes: 68 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for common shiner?

The best common shiner lakes by water quality are Hanbury Lake, Duck Lake, Big Blue Lake, Crystal Lake, Big Twin Lake. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where common shiner have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with common shiner?

Common Shiner are most commonly found alongside common shiner, yellow perch, bluntnose minnow, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Common Shiner Lakes

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 58 lakes · 1,577 total

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 56 lakes · 160 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 53 lakes · 2,489 total

Pumpkinseed Lakes

Found together in 53 lakes · 1,328 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 52 lakes · 1,550 total

Rock Bass Lakes

Found together in 49 lakes · 786 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.