Johnny Darter Fishing Guide, 98 Best-Graded Lakes

Rough fish like Johnny Darter are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 98 the United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs. LakeQuality covers lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Johnny Darter is narrowly distributed — only 98 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 Johnny Darter lake list below against the letter grades: lakes with both an A or B grade and Johnny Darter documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

Avg. Grade

55 ft

Avg. Depth

Water Quality of Johnny Darter Lakes

14%

Best Johnny Darter Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with johnny darter ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Ore Lake	Livingston	MI	A	81 ft	14
2	Emerald Lake	Kent	MI	A	-	15
3	Murray Lake	Kent	MI	A	-	29
4	Big Star Lake	Lake	MI	A	-	18
5	Crystal Lake	Washtenaw	MI	A	-	16
6	Round Lake	Lenawee	MI	A	67 ft	25
7	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	MI	A	-	21
8	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
9	Crystal Lake	Hillsdale	MI	A	-	16
10	Otter Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	30
11	Little Platte Lake	Benzie	MI	A	8 ft	8
12	Au Sable Lake	Ogemaw	MI	A	52 ft	11
13	Crooked Lake	Emmet	MI	A	50 ft	26
14	Spring Lake	Emmet	MI	A	-	15
15	Tamarack Lake	Livingston	MI	B	34 ft	20
16	Beaver Lake	Keweenaw	MI	B	-	16
17	Beaver Lake	Alger	MI	B	39 ft	14
18	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	D	-	37
19	Sanford Lake	Benzie	MI	NR	-	17
20	Lower Herring Lake	Benzie	MI	NR	50 ft	25
21	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	NR	-	15
22	Lake Bellaire	Antrim	MI	NR	95 ft	22
23	Crooked Lake	Barry	MI	NR	-	27
24	Clifford Lake	Montcalm	MI	NR	-	10
25	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	NR	60 ft	40
26	Chippewa Lake	Mecosta	MI	NR	40 ft	21
27	Opal Lake	Otsego	MI	NR	40 ft	11
28	Silver Lake	Van Buren	MI	NR	-	15
29	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	NR	70 ft	25
30	Fishers Lake	St. Joseph	MI	NR	42 ft	8
31	East Twin Lake	Montmorency	MI	NR	25 ft	7
32	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	NR	70 ft	26
33	Brevoort Lake	Mackinac	MI	NR	-	15
34	Lake Fenton	Genesee	MI	NR	90 ft	22
35	Emerald Lake	Newaygo	MI	NR	49 ft	15
36	Sanford Lake	Midland	MI	NR	20 ft	17
37	Muskellunge Lake	Montcalm	MI	NR	37 ft	12
38	Cedar Lake	Alcona	MI	NR	10 ft	22
39	Windover Lake	Clare	MI	NR	60 ft	8
40	Big Bradford Lake	Otsego	MI	NR	-	14
41	Farewell Lake	Jackson	MI	NR	43 ft	18
42	Barlow Lake	Barry	MI	NR	60 ft	10
43	Lake Margrethe	Crawford	MI	NR	65 ft	21
44	Pickerel Lake	Kalkaska	MI	NR	72 ft	29
45	Silver Lake	Cheboygan	MI	NR	-	15
46	Eagle Lake	Allegan	MI	NR	-	30
47	Cedar Lake	Iosco	MI	NR	-	20
48	Resort Lake	Menominee	MI	NR	41 ft	19
49	Shingle Lake	Clare	MI	NR	40 ft	12
50	Upper Herring Lake	Benzie	MI	NR	25 ft	18

Showing top 50 of 98 lakes with johnny darter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have johnny darter?

Johnny Darter are found in 98 graded lakes: 98 in Michigan. The average water quality grade of lakes with johnny darter is A (Excellent).

What are the best lakes for johnny darter?

The best johnny darter lakes by water quality are Ore Lake, Emerald Lake, Murray Lake, Big Star Lake, Crystal Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where johnny darter have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with johnny darter?

Johnny Darter are most commonly found alongside johnny darter, yellow perch, bluntnose minnow, bluegill, largemouth bass. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Johnny Darter Lakes

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 89 lakes · 1,577 total

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 84 lakes · 160 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 82 lakes · 1,550 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 81 lakes · 2,489 total

Pumpkinseed Lakes

Found together in 73 lakes · 1,328 total

Iowa Darter Lakes

Found together in 70 lakes · 126 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.