Northern Redbelly Dace Lakes in Michigan
Found in 11 Michigan lakes
Northern Redbelly Dace is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 11 lakes carry documentation. Northern Redbelly Dace is narrowly distributed — only 11 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 Redbelly Dace lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Northern Redbelly Dace documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Northern Redbelly Dace Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented northern redbelly dace, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Northern Redbelly Dace Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township | Kalkaska | A | - | - |
| 2 | Beaver Lake | Alger | B | 14.7 ft | - |
| 3 | Beaver Lake | Keweenaw | B | 8 ft | - |
| 4 | Tamarack Lake | Livingston | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 5 | Cedar Lake | Alcona | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 6 | Lake Margrethe | Crawford | NR | 16 ft | - |
| 7 | Shag Lake | Marquette | NR | 15.3 ft | - |
| 8 | Bass Lake North Basin; Forsyth Township | Marquette | NR | 12.5 ft | - |
| 9 | Elk Lake | Antrim | NR | 14.5 ft | - |
| 10 | Shag Lake Northeast Basin | Marquette | NR | 14.3 ft | - |
| 11 | Elk Lake | Antrim | NR | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have northern redbelly dace?
Northern Redbelly Dace are found in 11 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best northern redbelly dace lakes in Michigan?
The best northern redbelly dace lakes in Michigan by water quality are Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township, Beaver Lake, Beaver Lake, Tamarack Lake, Cedar Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.