Northern Pearl Dace Fishing Guide
Other SpeciesDocumented in 15 graded lakes across 1 state
Rough fish like Northern Pearl Dace are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 15 Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Northern Pearl Dace is narrowly distributed — only 15 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 Pearl Dace lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Northern Pearl Dace documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Water Quality of Northern Pearl Dace Lakes
Best Northern Pearl Dace Lakes by Water Quality
Top 50 lakes with northern pearl dace ranked by overall water quality grade.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squaw Lake | Kalkaska | MI | A | - | 8 |
| 2 | Pickerel Lake | Kalkaska | MI | A | - | 29 |
| 3 | Indian Lake Northeast Basin; Blue Lake Township | Kalkaska | MI | A | - | 11 |
| 4 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | MI | A | - | 40 |
| 5 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | MI | A | - | 40 |
| 6 | Bass Lake Northeast Basin | Kalkaska | MI | A | - | 12 |
| 7 | Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township | Kalkaska | MI | A | - | 17 |
| 8 | Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township | Kalkaska | MI | A | - | 8 |
| 9 | Lake Harvey | Keweenaw | MI | A | - | 5 |
| 10 | Long Lake | Gogebic | MI | B | - | 40 |
| 11 | Long Lake | Benzie | MI | B | - | 40 |
| 12 | Bass Lake North Basin; Forsyth Township | Marquette | MI | B | - | 16 |
| 13 | Bass Lake Central Basin; Forsyth Township | Marquette | MI | B | - | 10 |
| 14 | Long Lake | Gogebic | MI | B | - | 40 |
| 15 | Pickerel Lake | Emmet | MI | C | - | 22 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have northern pearl dace?
Northern Pearl Dace are found in 15 graded lakes: 15 in Michigan. The average water quality grade of lakes with northern pearl dace is B (Good).
What are the best lakes for northern pearl dace?
The best northern pearl dace lakes by water quality are Squaw Lake, Pickerel Lake, Indian Lake Northeast Basin; Blue Lake Township, Long Lake, Long Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where northern pearl dace have been documented by state DNR surveys.
What other fish are found with northern pearl dace?
Northern Pearl Dace are most commonly found alongside northern pearl dace, yellow perch, bluntnose minnow, iowa darter, white sucker. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Other Fish Species in Northern Pearl Dace Lakes
Found together in 15 lakes · 1,769 total
Found together in 14 lakes · 171 total
Found together in 14 lakes · 131 total
Found together in 14 lakes · 1,275 total
Found together in 13 lakes · 91 total
Found together in 13 lakes · 2,637 total
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.