Lake Whitefish Lakes in Michigan
Found in 22 Michigan lakes · 68 in Minnesota
Lake Whitefish is a cold-water species, so the lakes where it is documented tend to be the deep, well-oxygenated basins that stay cold through the summer. 90 lakes carry a record. Lake Whitefish is narrowly distributed — only 68 lakes in Minnesota and 22 in Michigan have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.
Trout presence is itself a water-quality signal: a Michigan lake that supports a Lake Whitefish population is almost certainly running cold enough and oxygenated enough to also support healthier overall water quality. Trout-supporting lakes are almost universally A- or B-grade — the cold, deep, well-oxygenated conditions trout need produce the higher grades almost as a side effect.
Lake Whitefish Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented lake whitefish, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Lake Whitefish Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystal Lake | Hillsdale | A | 9.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Long Lake | Gogebic | A | 12 ft | - |
| 3 | Lake Desor | Keweenaw | B | 7.8 ft | - |
| 4 | Siskiwit Lake | Keweenaw | B | 19.3 ft | - |
| 5 | Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township | Iron | B | 20.3 ft | - |
| 6 | Crystal Lake; East Central Basin; Watersmeet Township | Gogebic | B | 11 ft | - |
| 7 | Lake Charlevoix | Charlevoix | C | - | - |
| 8 | Crystal Lake | Montcalm | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 9 | Chicagon Lake | Iron | NR | 20.3 ft | - |
| 10 | Crystal Lake | Gogebic | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 11 | Higgins Lake | Roscommon | NR | 34 ft | - |
| 12 | Long Lake | Gogebic | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 13 | Long Lake | Benzie | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 14 | Crystal Lake | Benzie | NR | 32 ft | - |
| 15 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | NR | 24 ft | - |
| 16 | Crystal Lake | Hillsdale | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 17 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 18 ft | - |
| 18 | Elk Lake | Antrim | NR | 14.5 ft | - |
| 19 | Lake Charlevoix | Charlevoix | NR | 17.8 ft | - |
| 20 | Hubbard Lake Central Basin | Alcona | NR | 17 ft | - |
| 21 | Hubbard Lake | Alcona | NR | 24.5 ft | - |
| 22 | Elk Lake | Antrim | NR | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have lake whitefish?
Lake Whitefish are found in 22 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best lake whitefish lakes in Michigan?
The best lake whitefish lakes in Michigan by water quality are Crystal Lake, Long Lake, Lake Desor, Siskiwit Lake, Chicagon Lake Central Basin; Stambaugh Township.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.