Mimic Shiner Lakes in Michigan

Found in 65 Michigan lakes

Rough fish like Mimic Shiner are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 65 Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Mimic Shiner is narrowly distributed — only 65 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 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.

Michigan Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Mimic Shiner Lakes Map

Every Michigan lake with documented mimic shiner, colored by water-quality grade.

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Best Mimic Shiner Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township	Lake	A	8 ft	-
2	Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township	Livingston	A	10 ft	-
3	Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township	Jackson	A	11.8 ft	-
4	Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township	Benzie	A	8 ft	-
5	Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township	Montcalm	A	16 ft	-
6	Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township	Kent	A	7.2 ft	-
7	Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township	Kent	A	11.5 ft	-
8	Cub Lake Central Basin	Kalkaska	A	19 ft	-
9	Otter Lake	Benzie	A	12 ft	-
10	Long Lake North Central Basin; Long Lake Township	Grand Traverse	A	23.8 ft	-
11	Higgins Lake Northwest Basin	Roscommon	A	34.5 ft	-
12	Fishers Lake North Central Basin; Park Township	St. Joseph	A	10.5 ft	-
13	Sand Lake Central Basin; Cambridge Township	Lenawee	A	13.5 ft	-
14	Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township	Benzie	A	16 ft	-
15	Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp	Benzie	A	11 ft	-
16	Lower Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp	Benzie	A	12.3 ft	-
17	Long Lake	Gogebic	A	12 ft	-
18	Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	-	-
19	Lake Richie	Keweenaw	B	8.3 ft	-
20	Bass Lake	Leelanau	B	11.2 ft	-
21	Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township	Washtenaw	B	13 ft	-
22	Tamarack Lake North Basin; Hamburg Township	Livingston	B	7 ft	-
23	Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg Township	Livingston	B	10.5 ft	-
24	Crooked Lake	Emmet	B	-	-
25	Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township	Cass	NR	7 ft	-
26	Bass Lake	Lake	NR	14 ft	-
27	Long Lake	Cass	NR	10.5 ft	-
28	Bear Lake	Manistee	NR	11 ft	-
29	Lake Ann	Benzie	NR	13.8 ft	-
30	East Twin Lake	Montmorency	NR	9 ft	-
31	Bass Lake	Montcalm	NR	10.8 ft	-
32	Shavehead Lake	Cass	NR	7 ft	-
33	Farewell Lake	Jackson	NR	11.5 ft	-
34	Wall Lake	Barry	NR	9.5 ft	-
35	Cedar Lake	Alcona	NR	8 ft	-
36	Whitefish Lake	Montcalm	NR	16.8 ft	-
37	Long Lake	Gogebic	NR	11.5 ft	-
38	Union Lake	Branch	NR	3.5 ft	-
39	Lake James	Roscommon	NR	6.8 ft	-
40	Upper Herring Lake	Benzie	NR	7.5 ft	-
41	Lake Margrethe	Crawford	NR	16 ft	-
42	Long Lake	Benzie	NR	11.5 ft	-
43	Fishers Lake	St. Joseph	NR	10.5 ft	-
44	Gun Lake	Mason	NR	14 ft	-
45	Cranberry Lake	Oakland	NR	7.3 ft	-
46	Scram Lake	Kent	NR	10.5 ft	-
47	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	NR	24 ft	-
48	Otter Lake	Oakland	NR	10 ft	-
49	Crooked Lake	Barry	NR	10 ft	-
50	Otter Lake	Benzie	NR	12 ft	-

Showing top 50 of 65 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have mimic shiner?

Mimic Shiner are found in 65 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).

What are the best mimic shiner lakes in Michigan?

The best mimic shiner lakes in Michigan by water quality are Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township, Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township, Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township, Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township, Whitefish Lake Southeast Basin; Pierson Township.

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