Smallmouth Bass Lakes in Michigan

Found in 114 Michigan lakes · 427 in Minnesota · 412 in Wisconsin

Smallmouth Bass is a primary Michigan sport-fishing target. 953 lakes have an official record of the species — the actual population almost certainly extends further, since not every lake gets a full DNR fishery survey every year. With 427 lakes in Minnesota, 412 in Wisconsin, and 114 in Michigan carrying a documented record, Smallmouth Bass is one of the more accessible targets in the dataset.

Game-fish presence on a Michigan lake also signals enough water-quality stability to support the prey species the game fish depend on — perch, alewife, ciscoes — which themselves require reasonably oxygenated, clear water. On the LakeGrade rubric, the cleanest Smallmouth Bass lakes tend to also be the highest-graded — the same water-clarity and nutrient conditions that support the species also produce the higher grades.

114

Michigan Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Smallmouth Bass Lakes Map

Every Michigan lake with documented smallmouth bass, colored by water-quality grade.

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Best Smallmouth Bass Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township	Lake	A	8 ft	-
2	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	A	11.5 ft	-
3	Long Lake South Central Basin	Cass	A	10.5 ft	-
4	Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township	Benzie	A	8 ft	-
5	Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	23 ft	-
6	Round Lake	Benzie	A	15 ft	-
7	Crystal Lake	Hillsdale	A	9.5 ft	-
8	Bear Lake Southeast Basin	Kalkaska	A	36.5 ft	-
9	Cub Lake Central Basin	Kalkaska	A	19 ft	-
10	Otter Lake	Benzie	A	12 ft	-
11	Duck Lake North Basin; Watersmeet Township	Gogebic	A	9.5 ft	-
12	Higgins Lake East Basin	Roscommon	A	35 ft	-
13	North Crooked Lake South Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	13.5 ft	-
14	Higgins Lake Northwest Basin	Roscommon	A	34.5 ft	-
15	Little Platte Lake North Basin	Benzie	A	6.5 ft	-
16	Grass Lake	Gladwin	A	4 ft	-
17	Beaver Lake Central Basin; Ossineke Township	Alpena	A	16 ft	-
18	Sand Lake Central Basin; Cambridge Township	Lenawee	A	13.5 ft	-
19	Devils Lake Central Basin North	Lenawee	A	10.8 ft	-
20	Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township	Benzie	A	16 ft	-
21	Round Lake Central Basin	Lenawee	A	12 ft	-
22	Long Lake	Gogebic	A	12 ft	-
23	Lake George; Central Deep Basin; Lincoln Township	Clare	A	-	-
24	Big Blue Lake North Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	A	-	-
25	Bass Lake	Leelanau	B	11.2 ft	-
26	Lake George	Keweenaw	B	8 ft	-
27	Tamarack Lake North Basin; Hamburg Township	Livingston	B	7 ft	-
28	Fox Lake	Charlevoix	B	5 ft	-
29	Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg Township	Livingston	B	10.5 ft	-
30	Crystal Lake; East Central Basin; Watersmeet Township	Gogebic	B	11 ft	-
31	Stager Lake Central Basin	Iron	B	13 ft	-
32	Papoose Lake Central Basin; Blue Lake Township	Kalkaska	B	21 ft	-
33	Crooked Lake	Emmet	B	-	-
34	Round Lake	Shiawassee	D	6 ft	-
35	Sanford Lake	Benzie	NR	15.8 ft	-
36	Long Lake	Cass	NR	10.5 ft	-
37	Bear Lake	Manistee	NR	11 ft	-
38	White Lake	Muskegon	NR	6.8 ft	-
39	Chippewa Lake	Mecosta	NR	11.5 ft	-
40	Silver Lake	Washtenaw	NR	11.5 ft	-
41	East Twin Lake	Montmorency	NR	9 ft	-
42	Bass Lake	Montcalm	NR	10.8 ft	-
43	Crystal Lake	Montcalm	NR	10 ft	-
44	Wall Lake	Barry	NR	9.5 ft	-
45	Clark Lake	Livingston	NR	12 ft	-
46	Lake George	Clare	NR	11.5 ft	-
47	Cedar Lake	Alcona	NR	8 ft	-
48	Duck Lake	Muskegon	NR	10.5 ft	-
49	Eagle Lake	Cass	NR	6 ft	-
50	Sylvan Lake	Newaygo	NR	13.5 ft	-

Showing top 50 of 114 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have smallmouth bass?

Smallmouth Bass are found in 114 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).

What are the best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan?

The best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan by water quality are Big Star Lake Central Basin; Lake Township, Silver Lake, Long Lake South Central Basin, Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township, Big Twin Lake Southeast Basin; Blue Lake Township.

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.