Creek Chub Fishing Guide: 41 Lakes by Water Quality

Rough fish like Creek Chub are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 41 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. Creek Chub is narrowly distributed — only 41 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 Creek Chub lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Creek Chub documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

58 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Creek Chub Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with creek chub, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Derby Lake	Montcalm	MI	87 ft	12
2	Duck Lake	Muskegon	MI	-	22
3	Big Star Lake	Lake	MI	-	18
4	Round Lake	Lenawee	MI	67 ft	25
5	Gun Lake	Mason	MI	22 ft	6
6	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	45 ft	9
7	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	-	9
8	Sanford Lake	Benzie	MI	-	17
9	Lower Herring Lake	Benzie	MI	50 ft	25
10	Lake Ann	Benzie	MI	75 ft	10
11	Clifford Lake	Montcalm	MI	-	10
12	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	60 ft	40
13	Avery Lake	Montmorency	MI	-	9
14	Brown Lake	Jackson	MI	-	6
15	Sanford Lake	Midland	MI	20 ft	17
16	Duck Lake	Gogebic	MI	25 ft	16
17	Lake Margrethe	Crawford	MI	65 ft	21
18	Pickerel Lake	Kalkaska	MI	72 ft	29
19	Eagle Lake	Allegan	MI	-	30
20	Resort Lake	Menominee	MI	41 ft	19
21	Viking Lake	Otsego	MI	25 ft	18
22	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	88 ft	40
23	Long Lake	Benzie	MI	-	40
24	Baldwin Lake	Cass	MI	-	25
25	Long Lake	Cass	MI	42 ft	25
26	Baldwins Lake	Cass	MI	55 ft	33
27	Kimball Lake	Newaygo	MI	40 ft	20
28	Rose Lake	Osceola	MI	30 ft	8
29	Rose Lake	Shiawassee	MI	-	17
30	Burt Lake	Cheboygan	MI	73 ft	33
31	Deer Lake	Charlevoix	MI	20 ft	14
32	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	-	9
33	Mullett Lake	Cheboygan	MI	120 ft	23
34	Long Lake	Cheboygan	MI	61 ft	40
35	Elk Lake	Antrim	MI	150 ft	27
36	Douglas Lake	Cheboygan	MI	80 ft	22
37	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	45 ft	9
38	Douglas Lake	Otsego	MI	36 ft	22
39	Bass Lake	Marquette	MI	78 ft	10
40	Bass Lake	Kalkaska	MI	-	12
41	Duck Lake	Muskegon	MI	-	22

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have creek chub?

Creek Chub are documented in 41 lakes: 41 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for creek chub?

The best creek chub lakes by water quality are Derby Lake, Duck Lake, Big Star Lake, Round Lake, Gun Lake. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where creek chub have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with creek chub?

Creek Chub are most commonly found alongside creek chub, bluntnose minnow, yellow perch, rock bass, bluegill. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Creek Chub Lakes

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 37 lakes · 160 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 32 lakes · 1,577 total

Rock Bass Lakes

Found together in 31 lakes · 786 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 30 lakes · 1,550 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 30 lakes · 2,489 total

Johnny Darter Lakes

Found together in 27 lakes · 98 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.