Warmouth Lakes in Michigan
Found in 24 Michigan lakes · 2 in Minnesota
Panfish like Warmouth are the workhorses of Michigan recreational fishing — abundant, accessible, present in 26 surveyed lakes. Warmouth is narrowly distributed — only 24 lakes in Michigan and 2 in Minnesota have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.
Panfish species like Warmouth tolerate a wide range of water quality, so their presence in a lake says less about the lake than the absence of a game-fish would. Cross-reference the Warmouth lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Warmouth documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Warmouth Lakes Map
Every Michigan lake with documented warmouth, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Warmouth Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Lake North Central Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | A | 12 ft | - |
| 2 | Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township | Kent | A | 7.2 ft | - |
| 3 | Lime Lake | Benzie | A | 17.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Long Lake | Gogebic | A | 12 ft | - |
| 5 | Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | B | 13 ft | - |
| 6 | North Pond | Chippewa | B | - | - |
| 7 | Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township | Cass | NR | 7 ft | - |
| 8 | Middle Lake | Lapeer | NR | 9 ft | - |
| 9 | Shavehead Lake | Cass | NR | 7 ft | - |
| 10 | Wall Lake | Barry | NR | 9.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Eagle Lake | Cass | NR | 6 ft | - |
| 12 | North Lake | Washtenaw | NR | 12 ft | - |
| 13 | Eagle Lake | Allegan | NR | 14 ft | - |
| 14 | Long Lake | Gogebic | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 15 | Long Lake | Benzie | NR | 11.5 ft | - |
| 16 | Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township | Van Buren | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 17 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | NR | 24 ft | - |
| 18 | Diamond Lake | Osceola | NR | 16 ft | - |
| 19 | Green Lake | Allegan | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 20 | Green Lake Southwest Basin; Leighton Township | Allegan | NR | 8 ft | - |
| 21 | Carter Lake | Barry | NR | 4 ft | - |
| 22 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | NR | 18 ft | - |
| 23 | Carter Lake Northwest Basin | Barry | NR | 4.5 ft | - |
| 24 | Webinguaw Lake | Newaygo | NR | 2.5 ft | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michigan lakes have warmouth?
Warmouth are found in 24 lakes in Michigan. The average water quality grade of these lakes is A (Excellent).
What are the best warmouth lakes in Michigan?
The best warmouth lakes in Michigan by water quality are North Lake North Central Basin; Dexter Township, Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township, Lime Lake, Long Lake, Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.