Golden shiner Lakes in Michigan

Found in 77 Michigan lakes

Golden shiner is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 77 lakes carry documentation. Golden shiner is narrowly distributed — only 77 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 Golden shiner lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Golden shiner documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Michigan Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Best Golden shiner Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Sanford Lake	Benzie	A	15.8 ft	-
2	Corey Lake Southeastern Basin; Fabius Township	St. Joseph	A	16 ft	-
3	Twin Lake	Kalkaska	A	23 ft	-
4	Pickerel Lake	Kalkaska	A	15 ft	-
5	Round Lake	Benzie	A	15 ft	-
6	Indian Lake Northeast Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	15.5 ft	-
7	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	A	24 ft	-
8	Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township	Van Buren	A	17 ft	-
9	Eagle Lake	Van Buren	A	15 ft	-
10	Round Lake	Benzie	A	15 ft	-
11	Diamond Lake	Osceola	A	16 ft	-
12	Shag Lake	Marquette	A	15.3 ft	-
13	Twin Lakes; Grayling Twp	Crawford	A	19 ft	-
14	Papoose Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	21 ft	-
15	Papoose Lake	Kalkaska	A	20 ft	-
16	Long Lake	Cheboygan	A	18 ft	-
17	Douglas Lake	Otsego	A	16.5 ft	-
18	Bass Lake Northeast Basin	Kalkaska	A	18.5 ft	-
19	Manistee Lake South	Manistee	A	-	-
20	Spring Lake	Emmet	A	-	-
21	Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	-	-
22	Otter Lake	Benzie	A	12 ft	-
23	North Crooked Lake South Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	13.5 ft	-
24	Duck Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Fruitland Township	Muskegon	A	10.5 ft	-
25	Round Lake Central Basin	Lenawee	A	12 ft	-
26	Bear Lake	Manistee	B	11 ft	-
27	Chippewa Lake	Mecosta	B	11.5 ft	-
28	Lake Richie	Keweenaw	B	8.3 ft	-
29	Duck Lake	Muskegon	B	10.5 ft	-
30	Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township	Kent	B	7.2 ft	-
31	Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township	Kent	B	11.5 ft	-
32	Long Lake	Gogebic	B	11.5 ft	-
33	Eagle Lake	Allegan	B	14 ft	-
34	North Crooked Lake	Kalkaska	B	12.5 ft	-
35	Round Lake	Oakland	B	10 ft	-
36	Long Lake	Benzie	B	11.5 ft	-
37	Scram Lake	Kent	B	10.5 ft	-
38	Otter Lake	Oakland	B	10 ft	-
39	Otter Lake	Benzie	B	12 ft	-
40	Muskegon Lake	Muskegon	B	10.8 ft	-
41	Devils Lake	Lenawee	B	10.8 ft	-
42	North Crooked Lake North Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	B	12.5 ft	-
43	Perch Lakes	Otsego	B	10.5 ft	-
44	Bass Lake North Basin; Forsyth Township	Marquette	B	12.5 ft	-
45	Shag Lake Northeast Basin	Marquette	B	14.3 ft	-
46	Sanford Lake	Benzie	B	14.5 ft	-
47	Douglas Lake	Cheboygan	B	12 ft	-
48	Round Lake	Lenawee	B	12.5 ft	-
49	Long Lake	Gogebic	B	12 ft	-
50	Duck Lake North Basin; Watersmeet Township	Gogebic	B	9.5 ft	-

Showing top 50 of 77 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have golden shiner?

Golden shiner are found in 77 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).

What are the best golden shiner lakes in Michigan?

The best golden shiner lakes in Michigan by water quality are Sanford Lake, Corey Lake Southeastern Basin; Fabius Township, Twin Lake, Pickerel Lake, Round Lake.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.