Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Silver Lamprey is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 7 lakes carry documentation. Silver Lamprey is narrowly distributed — only 7 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 phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Silver Lamprey lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Silver Lamprey documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

7
Total Lakes
7
Michigan lakes →
59 ft
Avg. Depth

Best Silver Lamprey Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with silver lamprey, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

RankLakeCountyStateDepthSpecies
1Otter LakeBenzieMI-30
2Crooked LakeEmmetMI50 ft26
3Crooked LakeBarryMI-27
4Otter LakeOaklandMI70 ft30
5Portage LakeJacksonMI40 ft34
6Crooked LakeOaklandMI60 ft27
7Burt LakeCheboyganMI73 ft33

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have silver lamprey?

Silver Lamprey are documented in 7 lakes: 7 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for silver lamprey?

The best silver lamprey lakes by water quality are Otter Lake, Crooked Lake, Crooked Lake, Otter Lake, Portage Lake. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where silver lamprey have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with silver lamprey?

Silver Lamprey are most commonly found alongside bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, johnny darter, largemouth bass. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

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