warmouth Lakes in Michigan
Found in 24 Michigan lakes · 2 in Minnesota
Rough fish like warmouth are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 2 Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. warmouth is narrowly distributed — only 2 lakes in Minnesota 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 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.
Best warmouth Lakes in Michigan
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | A | 24 ft | - |
| 2 | Diamond Lake | Osceola | A | 16 ft | - |
| 3 | Long Lake | Cheboygan | A | 18 ft | - |
| 4 | Lime Lake | Benzie | A | 17.5 ft | - |
| 5 | North Lake North Central Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | A | 12 ft | - |
| 6 | Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | B | 13 ft | - |
| 7 | Murray Lake East Basin; Grattan Township | Kent | B | 7.2 ft | - |
| 8 | North Lake | Washtenaw | B | 12 ft | - |
| 9 | Long Lake | Gogebic | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 10 | Eagle Lake | Allegan | B | 14 ft | - |
| 11 | Long Lake | Benzie | B | 11.5 ft | - |
| 12 | Long Lake | Gogebic | B | 12 ft | - |
| 13 | Shavehead Lake East Basin; Porter Township | Cass | C | 7 ft | - |
| 14 | Middle Lake | Lapeer | C | 9 ft | - |
| 15 | Shavehead Lake | Cass | C | 7 ft | - |
| 16 | Wall Lake | Barry | C | 9.5 ft | - |
| 17 | Great Bear Lake South Basin; Bloomingdale Township | Van Buren | C | 8 ft | - |
| 18 | Green Lake | Allegan | C | 8 ft | - |
| 19 | Green Lake Southwest Basin; Leighton Township | Allegan | C | 8 ft | - |
| 20 | North Pond | Chippewa | C | - | - |
| 21 | Eagle Lake | Cass | D | 6 ft | - |
| 22 | Carter Lake | Barry | D | 4 ft | - |
| 23 | Carter Lake Northwest Basin | Barry | D | 4.5 ft | - |
| 24 | Webinguaw Lake | Newaygo | F | 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 C (Fair).
What are the best warmouth lakes in Michigan?
The best warmouth lakes in Michigan by water quality are Long Lake, Diamond Lake, Long Lake, Lime Lake, North Lake North Central Basin; Dexter Township.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.