Northern pearl dace Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin
Other SpeciesFound in 17 lakes
Rough fish like Northern pearl dace are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 17 Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Northern pearl dace is narrowly distributed — only 0 Minnesota lakes and 17 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 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; Lake Township; Section 31 | Benzie | MI | A | - | 40 |
| 11 | Long Lake | Gogebic | MI | B | - | 40 |
| 12 | Long Lake | Benzie | MI | B | - | 40 |
| 13 | Bass Lake North Basin; Forsyth Township | Marquette | MI | B | - | 16 |
| 14 | Bass Lake Central Basin; Forsyth Township | Marquette | MI | B | - | 10 |
| 15 | Long Lake | Gogebic | MI | B | - | 40 |
| 16 | Pickerel Lake | Emmet | MI | C | - | 22 |
| 17 | Lost Lake; Oakland Township; Section 4 | Oakland | MI | D | - | 13 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have northern pearl dace?
Northern pearl dace are found in 17 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 0 in Minnesota and 17 in Wisconsin. 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 yellow perch, bluntnose minnow, iowa darter, blacknose shiner, largemouth bass. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.