Johnny Darter Fishing Guide: 98 Lakes by Water Quality

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 phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings 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 each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Johnny Darter documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

55 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Johnny Darter Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with johnny darter, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

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

Showing top 50 of 98 lakes with johnny darter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have johnny darter?

Johnny Darter are documented in 98 lakes: 98 in Michigan.

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 carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings 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 readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.