Northern Pearl Dace Lakes in Michigan
Found in 15 Michigan lakes
Rough fish like Northern Pearl Dace are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 15 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.
Northern Pearl Dace Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented northern pearl dace, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Northern Pearl Dace Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township | Kalkaska | A | 16 ft | - |
| 2 | Long Lake | Gogebic | A | 12 ft | - |
| 3 | Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township | Kalkaska | A | - | - |
| 4 | Lake Harvey | Keweenaw | B | 10.5 ft | - |
| 5 | Squaw Lake | Kalkaska | NR | 16 ft | - |
| 6 | Pickerel Lake | Kalkaska | NR | 15 ft | - |
| 7 | Long Lake | Gogebic | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 8 | Long Lake | Benzie | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 9 | Indian Lake Northeast Basin; Blue Lake Township | Kalkaska | NR | 15.5 ft | - |
| 10 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | NR | 24 ft | - |
| 11 | Bass Lake North Basin; Forsyth Township | Marquette | NR | 12.5 ft | - |
| 12 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 18 ft | - |
| 13 | Pickerel Lake | Emmet | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 14 | Bass Lake Central Basin; Forsyth Township | Marquette | NR | 11.8 ft | - |
| 15 | Bass Lake Northeast Basin | Kalkaska | NR | 18.5 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have northern pearl dace?
Northern Pearl Dace are found in 15 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).
What are the best northern pearl dace lakes in Michigan?
The best northern pearl dace lakes in Michigan by water quality are Squaw Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township, Long Lake, Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township, Lake Harvey, Squaw Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.