Mimic Shiner Fishing Guide: 63 Lakes by Water Quality

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. 63 lakes carry documentation. Mimic Shiner is narrowly distributed — only 63 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 Mimic Shiner lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Mimic Shiner documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

50 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Mimic Shiner Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with mimic shiner, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Ore Lake	Livingston	MI	81 ft	14
2	Big Blue Lake	Kalkaska	MI	-	17
3	Murray Lake	Kent	MI	-	29
4	Big Star Lake	Lake	MI	-	18
5	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	MI	-	21
6	Otter Lake	Benzie	MI	-	30
7	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	45 ft	9
8	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	-	9
9	Crooked Lake	Emmet	MI	50 ft	26
10	Cranberry Lake	Oakland	MI	25 ft	14
11	Tamarack Lake	Livingston	MI	34 ft	20
12	Lake Richie	Keweenaw	MI	-	11
13	Bass Lake	Leelanau	MI	-	13
14	Walloon Lake	Emmet	MI	-	20
15	Upper Hamlin Lake	Mason	MI	-	6
16	Lower Hamlin Lake	Mason	MI	-	11
17	Lower Herring Lake	Benzie	MI	50 ft	25
18	Crooked Lake	Barry	MI	-	27
19	Lake Ann	Benzie	MI	75 ft	10
20	Long Lake	Gogebic	MI	60 ft	40
21	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	70 ft	25
22	Fishers Lake	St. Joseph	MI	42 ft	8
23	East Twin Lake	Montmorency	MI	25 ft	7
24	Cranberry Lake	Oakland	MI	25 ft	14
25	Shavehead Lake	Cass	MI	70 ft	26
26	Brevoort Lake	Mackinac	MI	-	15
27	Wall Lake	Barry	MI	36 ft	18
28	Cedar Lake	Alcona	MI	10 ft	22
29	Bear Lake	Manistee	MI	6 ft	14
30	Farewell Lake	Jackson	MI	43 ft	18
31	Lake Margrethe	Crawford	MI	65 ft	21
32	Evans Lake	Lenawee	MI	42 ft	19
33	Cedar Lake	Iosco	MI	-	20
34	Upper Herring Lake	Benzie	MI	25 ft	18
35	Bass Lake	Montcalm	MI	28 ft	13
36	Viking Lake	Otsego	MI	25 ft	18
37	Scram Lake	Kent	MI	85 ft	14
38	Otter Lake	Oakland	MI	70 ft	30
39	Cedar Lake	Oakland	MI	-	22
40	Crooked Lake	Oakland	MI	60 ft	27
41	Bloomfield Lake	Oakland	MI	-	17
42	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	88 ft	40
43	Long Lake	Benzie	MI	-	40
44	Bass Lake	Lake	MI	45 ft	7
45	Baldwin Lake	Cass	MI	-	25
46	Long Lake	Cass	MI	42 ft	25
47	Diamond Lake	Newaygo	MI	25 ft	25
48	Baldwins Lake	Cass	MI	55 ft	33
49	Green Lake	Grand Traverse	MI	102 ft	11
50	Union Lake	Branch	MI	-	22

Showing top 50 of 63 lakes with mimic shiner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have mimic shiner?

Mimic Shiner are documented in 63 lakes: 63 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for mimic shiner?

The best mimic shiner lakes by water quality are Ore Lake, Big Blue Lake, Murray Lake, Big Star Lake, Whitefish Lake. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings 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 mimic shiner, yellow perch, bluntnose minnow, bluegill, iowa darter. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Mimic Shiner Lakes

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 56 lakes · 1,577 total

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 53 lakes · 160 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 45 lakes · 1,550 total

Iowa Darter Lakes

Found together in 42 lakes · 126 total

Sand Shiner Lakes

Found together in 42 lakes · 66 total

Rock Bass Lakes

Found together in 42 lakes · 786 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.