Rosyface Shiner Fishing Guide, 16 Best-Graded 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. 16 lakes carry documentation. Rosyface Shiner 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 Rosyface Shiner lake list below against the letter grades: lakes with both an A or B grade and Rosyface Shiner documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Michigan lakes →

Avg. Grade

73 ft

Avg. Depth

Water Quality of Rosyface Shiner Lakes

19%

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	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	A	45 ft	9
3	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	A	-	9
4	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	D	-	37
5	Lake Bellaire	Antrim	MI	NR	95 ft	22
6	Lake Ann	Benzie	MI	NR	75 ft	10
7	Clifford Lake	Montcalm	MI	NR	-	10
8	Scram Lake	Kent	MI	NR	85 ft	14
9	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	NR	15 ft	37
10	Round Lake	Oakland	MI	NR	-	37
11	Round Lake	Shiawassee	MI	NR	-	37
12	Lake James	Roscommon	MI	NR	-	12
13	Lower Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	NR	-	9
14	Elk Lake	Antrim	MI	NR	150 ft	27
15	Round Lake	Kent	MI	NR	-	37
16	Upper Woodcock Lake	Benzie	MI	NR	45 ft	9

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have rosyface shiner?

Rosyface Shiner are found in 16 graded lakes: 16 in Michigan. 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, Upper Woodcock Lake, Lower Woodcock Lake, Round Lake, Lake Bellaire. 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 rosyface shiner, bluntnose minnow, common shiner, rock bass, northern longear sunfish. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Rosyface Shiner Lakes

Bluntnose Minnow Lakes

Found together in 15 lakes · 160 total

Common Shiner Lakes

Found together in 15 lakes · 68 total

Rock Bass Lakes

Found together in 14 lakes · 786 total

Northern Longear Sunfish Lakes

Found together in 13 lakes · 64 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 10 lakes · 1,550 total

Iowa Darter Lakes

Found together in 10 lakes · 126 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.