Redear Sunfish Lakes in Michigan
Found in 16 Michigan lakes
Redear Sunfish is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 16 lakes carry documentation. Redear Sunfish is narrowly distributed — only 16 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 Redear Sunfish lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Redear Sunfish documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Redear Sunfish Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented redear sunfish, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Redear Sunfish Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Lake South Central Basin | Cass | A | 10.5 ft | - |
| 2 | North Lake North Central Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | A | 12 ft | - |
| 3 | Clear Lake East Basin; Waterloo Township | Jackson | A | 10 ft | - |
| 4 | Round Lake | Benzie | A | 15 ft | - |
| 5 | Lake George | Keweenaw | B | 8 ft | - |
| 6 | Lake Ovid North Basin; Ovid Township | Clinton | C | 6 ft | - |
| 7 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | D | 6 ft | - |
| 8 | Lake Ovid | Clinton | NR | 6.5 ft | - |
| 9 | Round Lake | Mecosta | NR | 8.5 ft | - |
| 10 | Lake of the Woods | Branch | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 11 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | NR | 6.5 ft | - |
| 12 | Round Lake | Oakland | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 13 | Round Lake | Benzie | NR | 15 ft | - |
| 14 | Round Lake | Kent | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 15 | Baldwins Lake | Cass | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 16 | Stone Lake Central Basin; Jefferson Township | Cass | NR | 16 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have redear sunfish?
Redear Sunfish are found in 16 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best redear sunfish lakes in Michigan?
The best redear sunfish lakes in Michigan by water quality are Long Lake South Central Basin, North Lake North Central Basin; Dexter Township, Clear Lake East Basin; Waterloo Township, Round Lake, Lake George.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.