Walleye Lakes in Michigan

Found in 43 Michigan lakes · 1,237 in Minnesota · 702 in Wisconsin

Walleye is a primary Michigan sport-fishing target. 1,982 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 1,237 lakes in Minnesota, 702 in Wisconsin, and 43 in Michigan carrying a documented record, Walleye 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 Walleye lakes tend to also be the highest-graded — the same water-clarity and nutrient conditions that support the species also produce the higher grades.

Michigan Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Walleye Lakes Map

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

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Best Walleye Lakes in Michigan

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township	Benzie	A	8 ft	-
2	Otter Lake	Benzie	A	12 ft	-
3	Higgins Lake East Basin	Roscommon	A	35 ft	-
4	Emerald Lake	Kent	A	12 ft	-
5	Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township	Benzie	A	16 ft	-
6	Houghton Lake	Roscommon	A	5 ft	-
7	Long Lake	Gogebic	A	12 ft	-
8	Bass Lake	Leelanau	B	11.2 ft	-
9	Stager Lake Central Basin	Iron	B	13 ft	-
10	Crooked Lake	Emmet	B	-	-
11	Bear Lake East Basin; Pleasanton Township	Manistee	NR	11 ft	-
12	Bass Lake	Montcalm	NR	10.8 ft	-
13	Wall Lake	Barry	NR	9.5 ft	-
14	Eagle Lake	Cass	NR	6 ft	-
15	Sylvan Lake	Newaygo	NR	13.5 ft	-
16	Island Lake	Grand Traverse	NR	15 ft	-
17	Pickerel Lake	Kalkaska	NR	15 ft	-
18	Lake Mary	Iron	NR	19.5 ft	-
19	Eagle Lake	Allegan	NR	14 ft	-
20	Long Lake	Gogebic	NR	11.5 ft	-
21	Lake James	Roscommon	NR	6.8 ft	-
22	Upper Herring Lake	Benzie	NR	7.5 ft	-
23	Lake Margrethe	Crawford	NR	16 ft	-
24	Long Lake	Benzie	NR	11.5 ft	-
25	Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township	Oakland	NR	9.5 ft	-
26	Sylvan Lake	Oakland	NR	9.5 ft	-
27	Emerald Lake	Kent	NR	12.3 ft	-
28	Long Lake	Grand Traverse	NR	24 ft	-
29	Otter Lake	Oakland	NR	10 ft	-
30	Emerald Lake	Newaygo	NR	10.5 ft	-
31	Crooked Lake	Barry	NR	10 ft	-
32	Otter Lake	Benzie	NR	12 ft	-
33	Diamond Lake	Osceola	NR	16 ft	-
34	Monocle Lake	Chippewa	NR	16 ft	-
35	Burt Lake	Cheboygan	NR	15.5 ft	-
36	Lower Herring Lake	Benzie	NR	13.8 ft	-
37	Long Lake	Cheboygan	NR	18 ft	-
38	Stager Lake	Iron	NR	12.5 ft	-
39	Pickerel Lake	Emmet	NR	9.5 ft	-
40	Lake Bellaire	Antrim	NR	8.8 ft	-
41	Bass Lake	Marquette	NR	12 ft	-
42	Island Lake; Republic Township	Marquette	NR	12 ft	-
43	Lake Whittlesey	Keweenaw	NR	11.6 ft	-

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michigan lakes have walleye?

Walleye are found in 43 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).

What are the best walleye lakes in Michigan?

The best walleye lakes in Michigan by water quality are Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township, Otter Lake, Higgins Lake East Basin, Emerald Lake, Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township.

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