Northern Logperch Lakes in Michigan
Found in 53 Michigan lakes
Rough fish like Northern Logperch are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 3 Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Northern Logperch is narrowly distributed — only 3 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 Northern Logperch lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Northern Logperch documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Best Northern Logperch Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanford Lake | Benzie | A | 15.8 ft | - |
| 2 | Pickerel Lake | Kalkaska | A | 15 ft | - |
| 3 | Round Lake | Benzie | A | 15 ft | - |
| 4 | Lake Margrethe | Crawford | A | 16 ft | - |
| 5 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | A | 24 ft | - |
| 6 | Round Lake | Benzie | A | 15 ft | - |
| 7 | Monocle Lake | Chippewa | A | 16 ft | - |
| 8 | Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township | Benzie | A | 16 ft | - |
| 9 | Burt Lake | Cheboygan | A | 15.5 ft | - |
| 10 | Lake Geneserath | Charlevoix | A | 16.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | A | 18 ft | - |
| 12 | Douglas Lake | Otsego | A | 16.5 ft | - |
| 13 | Manistee Lake South | Manistee | A | - | - |
| 14 | Crooked Lake | Emmet | A | - | - |
| 15 | Elk Lake | Antrim | A | - | - |
| 16 | Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | A | 10 ft | - |
| 17 | Farewell Lake West Basin; Hanover Township | Jackson | A | 11.8 ft | - |
| 18 | Beaver Lake | Alger | A | 14.7 ft | - |
| 19 | Otter Lake | Benzie | A | 12 ft | - |
| 20 | Long Lake | Cass | B | 10.5 ft | - |
| 21 | Chippewa Lake | Mecosta | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 22 | Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | B | 13 ft | - |
| 23 | Long Lake South Central Basin | Cass | B | 10.5 ft | - |
| 24 | Beaver Lake | Keweenaw | B | 8 ft | - |
| 25 | Farewell Lake | Jackson | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 26 | Long Lake | Gogebic | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 27 | Barlow Lake | Barry | B | 11 ft | - |
| 28 | Round Lake | Oakland | B | 10 ft | - |
| 29 | Long Lake | Benzie | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 30 | Gun Lake | Mason | B | 14 ft | - |
| 31 | Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | B | 10.5 ft | - |
| 32 | Otter Lake | Oakland | B | 10 ft | - |
| 33 | Crooked Lake | Barry | B | 10 ft | - |
| 34 | Otter Lake | Benzie | B | 12 ft | - |
| 35 | Deer Lake | Charlevoix | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 36 | Mullett Lake | Cheboygan | B | 13 ft | - |
| 37 | Lower Herring Lake | Benzie | B | 13.8 ft | - |
| 38 | Elk Lake | Antrim | B | 14.5 ft | - |
| 39 | Sanford Lake | Benzie | B | 14.5 ft | - |
| 40 | Douglas Lake | Cheboygan | B | 12 ft | - |
| 41 | Long Lake | Gogebic | B | 12 ft | - |
| 42 | Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township | Cass | C | 7 ft | - |
| 43 | Shavehead Lake | Cass | C | 7 ft | - |
| 44 | Round Lake | Mecosta | C | 8.5 ft | - |
| 45 | Tamarack Lake North Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | C | 7 ft | - |
| 46 | Lake James | Roscommon | C | 6.8 ft | - |
| 47 | Baldwin Lake Northwest Basin | Cass | C | 8 ft | - |
| 48 | Pickerel Lake | Emmet | C | 9.5 ft | - |
| 49 | Round Lake | Kent | C | 8 ft | - |
| 50 | Baldwins Lake | Cass | C | 8 ft | - |
Showing top 50 of 53 lakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have northern logperch?
Northern Logperch are found in 53 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best northern logperch lakes in Michigan?
The best northern logperch lakes in Michigan by water quality are Sanford Lake, Pickerel Lake, Round Lake, Lake Margrethe, Long Lake.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.