Golden Redhorse Lakes in Michigan
Found in 15 Michigan lakes · 24 in Minnesota
Golden Redhorse is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 39 lakes carry documentation. Golden Redhorse is narrowly distributed — only 24 lakes in Minnesota and 15 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 Golden Redhorse lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Golden Redhorse documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Golden Redhorse Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented golden redhorse, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Golden Redhorse Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Lake | Gogebic | A | 12 ft | - |
| 2 | Tamarack Lake North Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | B | 7 ft | - |
| 3 | Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | B | 10.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Posey Lake Central Basin; Hudson Township | Lenawee | B | 5 ft | - |
| 5 | South Pond | Chippewa | C | 1.3 ft | - |
| 6 | Long Lake | Cass | NR | 10.5 ft | - |
| 7 | Eagle Lake | Allegan | NR | 14 ft | - |
| 8 | Long Lake | Gogebic | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 9 | Long Lake | Benzie | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 10 | Posey Lake | Lenawee | NR | 4.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | NR | 24 ft | - |
| 12 | Muskegon Lake | Muskegon | NR | 10.8 ft | - |
| 13 | Baldwin Lake Northwest Basin | Cass | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 14 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 18 ft | - |
| 15 | Baldwins Lake | Cass | NR | 8 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have golden redhorse?
Golden Redhorse are found in 15 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best golden redhorse lakes in Michigan?
The best golden redhorse lakes in Michigan by water quality are Long Lake, Tamarack Lake North Basin; Hamburg Township, Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg Township, Posey Lake Central Basin; Hudson Township, South Pond.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.