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LakeQuality

Mimic shiner Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Other SpeciesFound in 75 lakes

Mimic shiner is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 75 lakes carry documentation. Mimic shiner is narrowly distributed — only 0 Minnesota lakes and 75 Wisconsin lakes 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 Mimic shiner lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Mimic shiner documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

75
Total Lakes
0
Minnesota
75
Wisconsin
B
Avg. Grade

Water Quality of Mimic shiner Lakes

A
29
39%
B
30
40%
C
15
20%
D
1
1%
F
0
0%

Best Mimic shiner Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with mimic shiner ranked by overall water quality grade.

RankLakeCountyStateGradeDepthSpecies
1Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson TownshipMontcalmMIA-21
2Whitefish LakeMontcalmMIA-21
3Opal Lake Central Basin;Otesgo Lake Township Sec12OtsegoMIA-12
4Cub Lake Central BasinKalkaskaMIA-14
5Lake MargretheCrawfordMIA-21
6Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake TownshipGrand TraverseMIA-10
7Higgins Lake Northwest BasinRoscommonMIA-12
8Long LakeGrand TraverseMIA-40
9Diamond LakeOsceolaMIA-25
10Monocle LakeChippewaMIA-13
11Shag LakeMarquetteMIA-7
12Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire TownshipBenzieMIA-25
13Burt LakeCheboyganMIA-33
14Long LakeCheboyganMIA-40
15Walloon LakeEmmetMIA-20
16Crooked LakeEmmetMIA-26
17Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake TownshipKalkaskaMIA-17
18Bass LakeLeelanauMIA-13
19Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg TownshipLivingstonMIA-14
20Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover TownshipJacksonMIA-18
21Pickerel Lake East Central Basin; Garfield Township Sec. 1NewaygoMIA-21
22Maceday Lake Central Basin; Waterford Township Section 7OaklandMIA-26
23Long Lake; Lake Township; Section 31BenzieMIA-40
24Lower Hamlin Lake North Central Basin South of the NarrowsMasonMIA-11
25Otter LakeBenzieMIA-30
26Fremont Lake North Central Basin;Sheridan Township Section 3NewaygoMIA-23
27Fishers Lake North Central Basin; Park TownshipSt. JosephMIA-8
28Sand Lake Central Basin; Cambridge TownshipLenaweeMIA-6
29Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira TwpBenzieMIA-9
30Bass LakeLakeMIB-7
31Long LakeCassMIB-25
32Bear LakeManisteeMIB-14
33Lake AnnBenzieMIB-10
34Lake RichieKeweenawMIB-11
35Bass LakeMontcalmMIB-13
36Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter TownshipWashtenawMIB-26
37Farewell LakeJacksonMIB-18
38Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan TownshipKentMIB-29
39Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield TownshipKentMIB-14
40Long LakeGogebicMIB-40
41Long LakeBenzieMIB-40
42Fishers LakeSt. JosephMIB-8
43Gun LakeMasonMIB-17
44Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg TownshipLivingstonMIB-16
45Scram LakeKentMIB-14
46Otter LakeOaklandMIB-30
47Crooked LakeBarryMIB-27
48Otter LakeBenzieMIB-30
49Deer LakeCharlevoixMIB-14
50Lower Woodcock LakeBenzieMIB-9

Showing top 50 of 75 lakes with mimic shiner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have mimic shiner?

Mimic shiner are found in 75 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 0 in Minnesota and 75 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with mimic shiner is B (Good).

What are the best lakes for mimic shiner?

The best mimic shiner lakes by water quality are Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township, Whitefish Lake, Opal Lake Central Basin;Otesgo Lake Township Sec12, Cub Lake Central Basin, Lake Margrethe. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where mimic shiner have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with mimic shiner?

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

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.