Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Beltrami County
69 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Beltrami County; 31 cleared this site's grade rubric, which reads DNR survey catch rates, size structure and trophy history the same way the live map does for every lake. The top 10 are ranked here.
Big Lake leads at grade A−, with 14.2 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Big Bass (east basin) Lake is next at A−, 77.1 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey, 2% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Balm Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Lake | A− | 3,598 | 14.2/net in trap nets | 15% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Big Bass (east basin) Lake | A− | 337 | 77.1/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Balm Lake | B+ | 537 | 17/net in trap nets | 25% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Movil Lake | B+ | 855 | 13.7/net in trap nets | 12% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | South Twin Lake | B+ | 222 | 19.7/net in trap nets | 24% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | North Twin Lake | B | 326 | 17.7/net in trap nets | 16% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Pimushe Lake | B | 1,230 | 7.5/net in trap nets | 46% | 9" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Campbell Lake | B | 463 | 17.2/net in trap nets | 13% | 8" | 0.3 lb | 2021 |
| 9 | Cass Lake | B | 15,958 | 2.3/net in trap nets | 12% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Little Turtle Lake | B | 469 | 8.8/net in trap nets | 83% | 10" | 0.5 lb | 2021 |
Also ranked in Beltrami County: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best bluegill lakes in Minnesota
Grades are this site's rubric over Minnesota DNR survey data (catch per unit effort against DNR benchmarks, size structure, trophy history). See any lake's page for the underlying numbers. Survey years vary by lake; the table shows each lake's latest.