Rosyface shiner Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Other SpeciesFound in 22 lakes

Rosyface shiner is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 22 lakes carry documentation. Rosyface shiner is narrowly distributed — only 0 Minnesota lakes and 22 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 Rosyface shiner lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Rosyface shiner documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Avg. Grade

Water Quality of Rosyface shiner Lakes

32%

41%

23%

Best Rosyface shiner Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with rosyface shiner ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
2	Higgins Lake East Basin	Roscommon	MI	A	-	11
3	Higgins Lake Northwest Basin	Roscommon	MI	A	-	12
4	Round Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	37
5	Elk Lake	Antrim	MI	A	-	27
6	Fremont Lake North Central Basin;Sheridan Township Section 3	Newaygo	MI	A	-	23
7	Upper Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp	Benzie	MI	A	-	9
8	Lake Ann	Benzie	MI	B	-	10
9	Round Lake; Independence Township; Section 2	Oakland	MI	B	-	37
10	Scram Lake East Basin; Oakfield Township	Kent	MI	B	-	14
11	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	B	-	37
12	Scram Lake	Kent	MI	B	-	14
13	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	B	-	9
14	Lower Woodcock Lake; Almira Twp	Benzie	MI	B	-	9
15	Elk Lake	Antrim	MI	B	-	27
16	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	B	-	9
17	Round Lake	Mecosta	MI	C	-	37
18	Lake James	Roscommon	MI	C	-	12
19	Round Lake	Kent	MI	C	-	37
20	Lake Bellaire	Antrim	MI	C	-	22
21	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	C	-	37
22	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	D	-	37

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have rosyface shiner?

Rosyface shiner are found in 22 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 0 in Minnesota and 22 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with rosyface shiner is B (Good).

What are the best lakes for rosyface shiner?

The best rosyface shiner lakes by water quality are Round Lake, Higgins Lake East Basin, Higgins Lake Northwest Basin, Round Lake, Elk Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where rosyface shiner have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with rosyface shiner?

Rosyface shiner are most commonly found alongside bluntnose minnow, common shiner, yellow perch, northern longear sunfish, rock bass. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.