Rainbow Smelt Lakes in Michigan
Found in 14 Michigan lakes · 18 in Minnesota
Rainbow Smelt is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 32 lakes carry documentation. Rainbow Smelt is narrowly distributed — only 18 lakes in Minnesota and 14 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 Rainbow Smelt lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Rainbow Smelt documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Rainbow Smelt Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented rainbow smelt, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Rainbow Smelt Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Long Lake Central Basin; Prairieville Township | Barry | A | 12.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Crystal Lake | Hillsdale | A | 9.5 ft | - |
| 3 | Crystal Lake; East Central Basin; Watersmeet Township | Gogebic | B | 11 ft | - |
| 4 | Lake Charlevoix | Charlevoix | C | - | - |
| 5 | Crystal Lake | Montcalm | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 6 | Duck Lake | Muskegon | NR | 10.5 ft | - |
| 7 | Crystal Lake | Gogebic | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 8 | Gun Lake | Mason | NR | 14 ft | - |
| 9 | Crystal Lake | Benzie | NR | 32 ft | - |
| 10 | Crystal Lake | Hillsdale | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Lake Bellaire | Antrim | NR | 8.8 ft | - |
| 12 | Lake Charlevoix | Charlevoix | NR | 17.8 ft | - |
| 13 | Duck Lake | Muskegon | NR | 8.5 ft | - |
| 14 | Walloon Lake | Emmet | NR | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have rainbow smelt?
Rainbow Smelt are found in 14 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best rainbow smelt lakes in Michigan?
The best rainbow smelt lakes in Michigan by water quality are Little Long Lake Central Basin; Prairieville Township, Crystal Lake, Crystal Lake; East Central Basin; Watersmeet Township, Lake Charlevoix, Crystal Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.