Hornyhead Chub Lakes in Michigan
Found in 28 Michigan lakes
Rough fish like Hornyhead Chub are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 28 Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Hornyhead Chub is narrowly distributed — only 28 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 Hornyhead Chub lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Hornyhead Chub documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Hornyhead Chub Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented hornyhead chub, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Hornyhead Chub Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Lake | Washtenaw | A | 11.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Long Lake South Central Basin | Cass | A | 10.5 ft | - |
| 3 | Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp | Benzie | A | 11 ft | - |
| 4 | Lower Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp | Benzie | A | 12.3 ft | - |
| 5 | Long Lake | Gogebic | A | 12 ft | - |
| 6 | Sanford Lake | Benzie | NR | 15.8 ft | - |
| 7 | Long Lake | Cass | NR | 10.5 ft | - |
| 8 | Corey Lake | St. Joseph | NR | 16 ft | - |
| 9 | Lake Ann | Benzie | NR | 13.8 ft | - |
| 10 | Silver Lake | Washtenaw | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Eagle Lake | Allegan | NR | 14 ft | - |
| 12 | Long Lake | Gogebic | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 13 | Lake James | Roscommon | NR | 6.8 ft | - |
| 14 | Silver Lake | Genesee | NR | 12 ft | - |
| 15 | Long Lake | Benzie | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 16 | Silver Lake | Van Buren | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 17 | Avery Lake | Montmorency | NR | 27 ft | - |
| 18 | Brown Lake | Jackson | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 19 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | NR | 24 ft | - |
| 20 | Green Lake | Allegan | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 21 | Green Lake Southwest Basin; Leighton Township | Allegan | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 22 | Baldwin Lake Northwest Basin | Cass | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 23 | Lower Woodcock Lake | Benzie | NR | 12.3 ft | - |
| 24 | Silver Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 32 ft | - |
| 25 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 18 ft | - |
| 26 | Baldwins Lake | Cass | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 27 | Sanford Lake | Benzie | NR | 14.5 ft | - |
| 28 | Upper Woodcock Lake | Benzie | NR | 11 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have hornyhead chub?
Hornyhead Chub are found in 28 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).
What are the best hornyhead chub lakes in Michigan?
The best hornyhead chub lakes in Michigan by water quality are Silver Lake, Long Lake South Central Basin, Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp, Lower Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp, Long Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.