Fathead minnow Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Other SpeciesFound in 21 lakes

Rough fish like Fathead minnow are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 21 Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Fathead minnow is narrowly distributed — only 0 Minnesota lakes and 21 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 Fathead minnow lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Fathead minnow documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Avg. Grade

Water Quality of Fathead minnow Lakes

24%

19%

38%

19%

Best Fathead minnow Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with fathead minnow ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
2	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
3	Twin Lakes; Grayling Twp	Crawford	MI	A	-	7
4	Lake Harvey	Keweenaw	MI	A	-	5
5	Maceday Lake Central Basin; Waterford Township Section 7	Oakland	MI	A	-	26
6	Round Lake; Independence Township; Section 2	Oakland	MI	B	-	37
7	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	B	-	37
8	Bass Lake North Basin; Forsyth Township	Marquette	MI	B	-	16
9	Grass Lake	Gladwin	MI	B	-	6
10	Cedar Lake	Alcona	MI	C	-	22
11	Round Lake	Mecosta	MI	C	-	37
12	Pleasant Lake	Wexford	MI	C	-	11
13	Twin Lakes	Oakland	MI	C	-	7
14	Pleasant Lake	Oakland	MI	C	-	11
15	Round Lake	Kent	MI	C	-	37
16	Pleasant Lake; West Bloomfield Township	Oakland	MI	C	-	11
17	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	C	-	37
18	Twin Lakes	Oakland	MI	D	-	7
19	Grass Lake	Gladwin	MI	D	-	6
20	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	D	-	37
21	Lost Lake; Oakland Township; Section 4	Oakland	MI	D	-	13

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have fathead minnow?

Fathead minnow are found in 21 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 0 in Minnesota and 21 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with fathead minnow is C (Fair).

What are the best lakes for fathead minnow?

The best fathead minnow lakes by water quality are Round Lake, Round Lake, Twin Lakes; Grayling Twp, Lake Harvey, Maceday Lake Central Basin; Waterford Township Section 7. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where fathead minnow have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with fathead minnow?

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

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.