Spotfin Shiner Lakes in Michigan
Found in 21 Michigan lakes
Rough fish like Spotfin Shiner are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 21 Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Spotfin Shiner is narrowly distributed — only 21 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 Spotfin Shiner lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Spotfin Shiner documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Spotfin Shiner Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented spotfin shiner, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Spotfin Shiner Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township | Kent | A | 7.2 ft | - |
| 2 | Round Lake | Benzie | A | 15 ft | - |
| 3 | Higgins Lake Northwest Basin | Roscommon | A | 34.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Round Lake Central Basin | Lenawee | A | 12 ft | - |
| 5 | Rose Lake | Shiawassee | D | 5 ft | - |
| 6 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | D | 6 ft | - |
| 7 | Sanford Lake | Benzie | NR | 15.8 ft | - |
| 8 | Clark Lake | Livingston | NR | 12 ft | - |
| 9 | Murray Lake | Kent | NR | 7 ft | - |
| 10 | Rose Lake | Shiawassee | NR | 5.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Round Lake | Mecosta | NR | 8.5 ft | - |
| 12 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | NR | 6.5 ft | - |
| 13 | Round Lake | Oakland | NR | 10 ft | - |
| 14 | Gun Lake | Mason | NR | 14 ft | - |
| 15 | Round Lake | Benzie | NR | 15 ft | - |
| 16 | Green Lake | Allegan | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 17 | Devils Lake | Lenawee | NR | 10.8 ft | - |
| 18 | Green Lake Southwest Basin; Leighton Township | Allegan | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 19 | Round Lake | Kent | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 20 | Sanford Lake | Benzie | NR | 14.5 ft | - |
| 21 | Round Lake | Lenawee | NR | 12.5 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have spotfin shiner?
Spotfin Shiner are found in 21 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best spotfin shiner lakes in Michigan?
The best spotfin shiner lakes in Michigan by water quality are Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township, Round Lake, Higgins Lake Northwest Basin, Round Lake Central Basin, Rose Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.