Walleye Lakes in Michigan
Found in 44 Michigan lakes · 699 in Wisconsin
Walleye is a primary Michigan sport-fishing target. 743 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 699 lakes in Wisconsin and 44 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.
Best Walleye Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Island Lake | Grand Traverse | A | 15 ft | - |
| 2 | Pickerel Lake | Kalkaska | A | 15 ft | - |
| 3 | Lake Mary | Iron | A | 19.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Lake Margrethe | Crawford | A | 16 ft | - |
| 5 | Higgins Lake East Basin | Roscommon | A | 35 ft | - |
| 6 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | A | 24 ft | - |
| 7 | Diamond Lake | Osceola | A | 16 ft | - |
| 8 | Monocle Lake | Chippewa | A | 16 ft | - |
| 9 | Lower Herring Lake East Basin; Blaire Township | Benzie | A | 16 ft | - |
| 10 | Burt Lake | Cheboygan | A | 15.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | A | 18 ft | - |
| 12 | Crooked Lake | Emmet | A | - | - |
| 13 | Bass Lake | Leelanau | A | 11.2 ft | - |
| 14 | Otter Lake | Benzie | A | 12 ft | - |
| 15 | Bear Lake East Basin; Pleasanton Township | Manistee | B | 11 ft | - |
| 16 | Bass Lake | Montcalm | B | 10.8 ft | - |
| 17 | Sylvan Lake | Newaygo | B | 13.5 ft | - |
| 18 | Long Lake | Gogebic | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 19 | Eagle Lake | Allegan | B | 14 ft | - |
| 20 | Long Lake | Benzie | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 21 | Emerald Lake | Kent | B | 12 ft | - |
| 22 | Emerald Lake | Kent | B | 12.3 ft | - |
| 23 | Otter Lake | Oakland | B | 10 ft | - |
| 24 | Emerald Lake | Newaygo | B | 10.5 ft | - |
| 25 | Crooked Lake | Barry | B | 10 ft | - |
| 26 | Otter Lake | Benzie | B | 12 ft | - |
| 27 | Stager Lake Central Basin | Iron | B | 13 ft | - |
| 28 | Lower Herring Lake | Benzie | B | 13.8 ft | - |
| 29 | Stager Lake | Iron | B | 12.5 ft | - |
| 30 | Bass Lake | Marquette | B | 12 ft | - |
| 31 | Island Lake; Republic Township | Marquette | B | 12 ft | - |
| 32 | Long Lake | Gogebic | B | 12 ft | - |
| 33 | Lake Whittlesey | Keweenaw | B | 11.6 ft | - |
| 34 | Upper Herring Lake; Central Basin; Blaine Township | Benzie | B | 8 ft | - |
| 35 | Houghton Lake | Roscommon | B | 5 ft | - |
| 36 | Wall Lake | Barry | C | 9.5 ft | - |
| 37 | Upper Herring Lake | Benzie | C | 7.5 ft | - |
| 38 | Lake James | Roscommon | C | 6.8 ft | - |
| 39 | Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township | Oakland | C | 9.5 ft | - |
| 40 | Sylvan Lake | Oakland | C | 9.5 ft | - |
| 41 | Pickerel Lake | Emmet | C | 9.5 ft | - |
| 42 | Lake Bellaire | Antrim | C | 8.8 ft | - |
| 43 | Langford Lake; Deepest Basin; Watersmeet Township | Gogebic | C | 6 ft | - |
| 44 | Eagle Lake | Cass | D | 6 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have walleye?
Walleye are found in 44 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best walleye lakes in Michigan?
The best walleye lakes in Michigan by water quality are Island Lake, Pickerel Lake, Lake Mary, Lake Margrethe, Higgins Lake East Basin.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.