Green sunfish Lakes in Michigan

Found in 87 Michigan lakes

Green sunfish is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 87 lakes carry documentation. Green sunfish is narrowly distributed — only 87 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 Green sunfish lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Green sunfish documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Michigan Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Best Green sunfish Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Squaw Lake	Kalkaska	A	16 ft	-
2	Corey Lake	St. Joseph	A	16 ft	-
3	Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township	Montcalm	A	16 ft	-
4	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	A	16.8 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	Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township	Alpena	A	16 ft	-
9	Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township	Van Buren	A	17 ft	-
10	Eagle Lake	Van Buren	A	15 ft	-
11	Round Lake	Benzie	A	15 ft	-
12	Burt Lake	Cheboygan	A	15.5 ft	-
13	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	A	32 ft	-
14	Long Lake	Cheboygan	A	18 ft	-
15	Lime Lake	Benzie	A	17.5 ft	-
16	Cordley Lake Central Basin; Hamburg Township	Livingston	A	-	-
17	Loon Lake	Benzie	A	12.1 ft	-
18	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	A	11.5 ft	-
19	Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township	Grand Traverse	A	13 ft	-
20	Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	16 ft	-
21	Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township	Jackson	A	11.8 ft	-
22	Clear Lake East Basin; Waterloo Township	Jackson	A	10 ft	-
23	Loon Lake; Lake Twp	Benzie	A	12 ft	-
24	Long Lake	Cass	B	10.5 ft	-
25	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	B	11.5 ft	-
26	Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township	Washtenaw	B	13 ft	-
27	Crystal Lake	Montcalm	B	10 ft	-
28	Long Lake South Central Basin	Cass	B	10.5 ft	-
29	Rennie Lake	Grand Traverse	B	13 ft	-
30	Farewell Lake	Jackson	B	11.5 ft	-
31	Clark Lake	Livingston	B	12 ft	-
32	Sylvan Lake	Newaygo	B	13.5 ft	-
33	Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township	Kent	B	7.2 ft	-
34	Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township	Kent	B	11.5 ft	-
35	Crystal Lake	Gogebic	B	10 ft	-
36	Crystal Lake	Hillsdale	B	9.5 ft	-
37	Long Lake	Gogebic	B	11.5 ft	-
38	Eagle Lake	Allegan	B	14 ft	-
39	Barlow Lake	Barry	B	11 ft	-
40	Sand Lake	Lenawee	B	13.3 ft	-
41	Silver Lake	Genesee	B	12 ft	-
42	Round Lake	Oakland	B	10 ft	-
43	Long Lake	Benzie	B	11.5 ft	-
44	Gun Lake	Mason	B	14 ft	-
45	Emerald Lake	Kent	B	12 ft	-
46	Clear Lake	Jackson	B	10 ft	-
47	Scram Lake	Kent	B	10.5 ft	-
48	Emerald Lake	Kent	B	12.3 ft	-
49	Emerald Lake	Newaygo	B	10.5 ft	-
50	Crystal Lake; East Central Basin; Watersmeet Township	Gogebic	B	11 ft	-

Showing top 50 of 87 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have green sunfish?

Green sunfish are found in 87 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).

What are the best green sunfish lakes in Michigan?

The best green sunfish lakes in Michigan by water quality are Squaw Lake, Corey Lake, Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township, Whitefish Lake, Round Lake.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.