Best Bluegill Lakes in Minnesota
Top bluegill lakes
2,641 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for bluegill; 255 of them are at least 1,000 acres. The top 15 are ranked below by FishGrade's 0–100 score: abundance against the DNR normal range for similar lakes, plus size structure. Maple leads at 94. Across all 255 qualifying lakes the median score is 37.
See all 2,641 bluegill lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maple | Polk | 1,641 | Excellent · 94 | 65.3per trap net | 50% | 2021 |
| 2 | Wild Rice | St. Louis | 2,372 | Excellent · 86 | 11.3per trap net | 45% | 2024 |
| 3 | Minnewaska | Pope | 8,050 | Excellent · 85 | 62.1per trap net | 45% | 2023 |
| 4 | Jennie | Meeker | 1,069 | Excellent · 83 | 14.6per trap net | 50% | 2018 |
| 5 | North Tamarack | Becker | 1,442 | Excellent · 82 | 21.6per trap net | 26% | 2018 |
| 6 | Basswood | Lake | 25,953 | Excellent · 79 | 9.3per trap net | 22% | 2022 |
| 7 | Whiteface Reservoir | St. Louis | 4,567 | Excellent · 76 | 3.3per trap net | 70% | 2022 |
| 8 | Traverse | Traverse | 10,849 | Good · 73 | 4.0per trap net | 62% | 2019 |
| 9 | Big Cormorant | Becker | 3,657 | Good · 73 | 9.7per trap net | 65% | 2023 |
| 10 | Big Stone | Big Stone | 11,984 | Good · 72 | 1.8per trap net | 73% | 2025 |
| 11 | Hanska | Brown | 1,795 | Good · 72 | 6.0per trap net | 46% | 2021 |
| 12 | Trout | Itasca | 1,862 | Good · 71 | 13.2per trap net | 49% | 2018 |
| 13 | Floyd | Becker | 1,178 | Good · 71 | 6.7per trap net | 69% | 2021 |
| 14 | Bowstring | Itasca | 9,528 | Good · 70 | 3.4per trap net | - | 2021 |
| 15 | Height of Land | Becker | 3,795 | Good · 70 | 13.2per trap net | - | 2021 |
65.3 per trap net · 50% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
- 2. Wild RiceExcellent · 86
St. Louis County · 2,372 acres
11.3 per trap net · 45% keeper-size · surveyed 2024
- 3. MinnewaskaExcellent · 85
Pope County · 8,050 acres
62.1 per trap net · 45% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
14.6 per trap net · 50% keeper-size · surveyed 2018
- 5. North TamarackExcellent · 82
Becker County · 1,442 acres
21.6 per trap net · 26% keeper-size · surveyed 2018
- 6. BasswoodExcellent · 79
Lake County · 25,953 acres
9.3 per trap net · 22% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 7. Whiteface ReservoirExcellent · 76
St. Louis County · 4,567 acres
3.3 per trap net · 70% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 8. TraverseGood · 73
Traverse County · 10,849 acres
4.0 per trap net · 62% keeper-size · surveyed 2019
- 9. Big CormorantGood · 73
Becker County · 3,657 acres
9.7 per trap net · 65% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 10. Big StoneGood · 72
Big Stone County · 11,984 acres
1.8 per trap net · 73% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 11. HanskaGood · 72
Brown County · 1,795 acres
6.0 per trap net · 46% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
13.2 per trap net · 49% keeper-size · surveyed 2018
6.7 per trap net · 69% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
- 14. BowstringGood · 70
Itasca County · 9,528 acres
3.4 per trap net · surveyed 2021
- 15. Height of LandGood · 70
Becker County · 3,795 acres
13.2 per trap net · surveyed 2021
Underrated bluegill lakes under 1,000 acres
Smaller waters (100–999 acres) with standout survey numbers and lighter fishing pressure.
| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mallard | Clearwater | 105 | Excellent · 100 | 114.0per trap net | - | 1987 |
| 2 | Moenkedick | Otter Tail | 103 | Excellent · 100 | 100.7per trap net | - | 1992 |
| 3 | First Fulda | Murray | 123 | Excellent · 95 | 50.9per trap net | 63% | 2019 |
| 4 | North McDougal | Lake | 273 | Excellent · 89 | 7.8per trap net | 72% | 2023 |
| 5 | Hovde | Cass | 133 | Excellent · 89 | 86.1per trap net | 37% | 2010 |
| 6 | Knight | Cass | 131 | Excellent · 89 | 37.0per trap net | - | 1989 |
| 7 | Blueberry | Wadena | 533 | Excellent · 88 | 16.5per trap net | 74% | 2022 |
| 8 | Ox | Crow Wing | 241 | Excellent · 88 | 69.7per trap net | - | 1990 |
| 9 | Fish | Otter Tail | 489 | Excellent · 87 | 39.8per trap net | 50% | 2012 |
| 10 | Stowe | Douglas | 377 | Excellent · 87 | 18.6per trap net | 94% | 2025 |
- 1. MallardExcellent · 100
Clearwater County · 105 acres
114.0 per trap net · surveyed 1987
- 2. MoenkedickExcellent · 100
Otter Tail County · 103 acres
100.7 per trap net · surveyed 1992
- 3. First FuldaExcellent · 95
Murray County · 123 acres
50.9 per trap net · 63% keeper-size · surveyed 2019
- 4. North McDougalExcellent · 89
Lake County · 273 acres
7.8 per trap net · 72% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
86.1 per trap net · 37% keeper-size · surveyed 2010
37.0 per trap net · surveyed 1989
- 7. BlueberryExcellent · 88
Wadena County · 533 acres
16.5 per trap net · 74% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
69.7 per trap net · surveyed 1990
- 9. FishExcellent · 87
Otter Tail County · 489 acres
39.8 per trap net · 50% keeper-size · surveyed 2012
18.6 per trap net · 94% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bluegill lake in Minnesota?
Maple in Polk County is the top-rated bluegill lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 94 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 65.3 bluegill per trap net, with 50% of catchable fish at keeper size. Among smaller waters, Mallard in Clearwater County (105 acres) tops the under-1,000-acre list with a score of 100.
How are these rankings calculated?
Each lake's 0-100 FishGrade score blends two signals from Minnesota DNR surveys: abundance, which compares the lake's catch rate to the DNR normal range for similar lakes using the survey gear that best samples bluegill, and size, the share of sampled fish reaching keeper size. To keep the list meaningful, the main rankings cover named lakes of at least 1,000 acres, and standout smaller lakes of 100+ acres are listed separately.
How current is this data?
Every ranking uses the most recent Minnesota DNR survey for each lake: survey dates for the ranked lakes run from 2018 to 2025, and 12 of 15 were surveyed within the last 7 years. The DNR resurveys most lakes on a 5-to-10-year cycle, and these rankings update as new surveys are published.
Which counties have the best bluegill fishing?
Becker County, Itasca County, and St. Louis County lead this list, holding 8 of the top 15 bluegill lakes in Minnesota between them.