Largemouth Bass Lakes in Michigan

Found in 168 Michigan lakes · 1,300 in Minnesota · 1,125 in Wisconsin

Largemouth Bass is a primary Michigan sport-fishing target. 2,593 lakes have an official record of the species — the actual population almost certainly extends further, since not every lake gets a full DNR fishery survey every year. With 1,300 lakes in Minnesota, 1,125 in Wisconsin, and 168 in Michigan carrying a documented record, Largemouth Bass is one of the more accessible targets in the dataset.

Game-fish presence on a Michigan lake also signals enough water-quality stability to support the prey species the game fish depend on — perch, alewife, ciscoes — which themselves require reasonably oxygenated, clear water. On the LakeGrade rubric, the cleanest Largemouth Bass lakes tend to also be the highest-graded — the same water-clarity and nutrient conditions that support the species also produce the higher grades.

168

Michigan Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Largemouth Bass Lakes Map

Every Michigan lake with documented largemouth bass, colored by water-quality grade.

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Best Largemouth Bass Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township	Clare	A	15 ft	-
2	West Twin Lake East Basin; Albert Township	Montmorency	A	13 ft	-
3	Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township	Lake	A	8 ft	-
4	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	A	11.5 ft	-
5	Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township	Grand Traverse	A	13 ft	-
6	Long Lake South Central Basin	Cass	A	10.5 ft	-
7	Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township	Jackson	A	11.8 ft	-
8	Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	16 ft	-
9	Kimball Lake Central Basin; Garfield Township	Newaygo	A	4.5 ft	-
10	Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township	Montcalm	A	16 ft	-
11	Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township	Kent	A	7.2 ft	-
12	Spider Lake West Basin	Grand Traverse	A	12 ft	-
13	Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township	Kent	A	11.5 ft	-
14	Round Lake	Benzie	A	15 ft	-
15	Crystal Lake	Hillsdale	A	9.5 ft	-
16	Bear Lake Southeast Basin	Kalkaska	A	36.5 ft	-
17	Cub Lake Central Basin	Kalkaska	A	19 ft	-
18	Otter Lake	Benzie	A	12 ft	-
19	Duck Lake North Basin; Watersmeet Township	Gogebic	A	9.5 ft	-
20	Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake Township	Grand Traverse	A	23.8 ft	-
21	Emerald Lake	Kent	A	12 ft	-
22	Eagle Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	17 ft	-
23	Little Platte Lake North Basin	Benzie	A	6.5 ft	-
24	Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township	Alpena	A	16 ft	-
25	Eagle Lake East Basin; Paw Paw Township	Van Buren	A	17 ft	-
26	Twin Lakes	Oakland	A	5 ft	-
27	Twin Lakes; Grayling Twp	Crawford	A	19 ft	-
28	Round Lake Central Basin	Lenawee	A	12 ft	-
29	Loon Lake; Lake Twp	Benzie	A	12 ft	-
30	Lime Lake	Benzie	A	17.5 ft	-
31	Long Lake	Gogebic	A	12 ft	-
32	Shingle Lake South Basin; Lincoln Township	Clare	A	-	-
33	Lake George; Central Deep Basin; Lincoln Township	Clare	A	-	-
34	Cordley Lake Central Basin; Hamburg Township	Livingston	A	-	-
35	Loon Lake	Benzie	B	12.1 ft	-
36	Bass Lake	Leelanau	B	11.2 ft	-
37	Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township	Washtenaw	B	13 ft	-
38	Lake George	Keweenaw	B	8 ft	-
39	Barneys Lake	Charlevoix	B	10 ft	-
40	Posey Lake Central Basin; Hudson Township	Lenawee	B	5 ft	-
41	Wolf Lake East Basin; Peacock Township	Lake	B	11 ft	-
42	Crystal Lake; East Central Basin; Watersmeet Township	Gogebic	B	11 ft	-
43	Stager Lake Central Basin	Iron	B	13 ft	-
44	Papoose Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	B	21 ft	-
45	Crooked Lake	Emmet	B	-	-
46	North Pond	Chippewa	B	-	-
47	Rose Lake	Shiawassee	D	5 ft	-
48	Round Lake	Shiawassee	D	6 ft	-
49	Kimball Lake	Newaygo	NR	4.5 ft	-
50	Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township	Cass	NR	7 ft	-

Showing top 50 of 168 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have largemouth bass?

Largemouth Bass are found in 168 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).

What are the best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan?

The best largemouth bass lakes in Michigan by water quality are Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township, West Twin Lake East Basin; Albert Township, Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township, Silver Lake, Rennie Lake; Central Basin; East Bay Township.

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.