Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Blue Earth County
15 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Blue Earth County; the 4 ranked here 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.
Madison Lake leads at grade B+, with 19 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 8-inch fish the biggest measured. Duck Lake is next at B, 30.8 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 1% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Ballantyne Lake rounds out the top three at B−, a 8-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison Lake | B+ | 1,447 | 19/net in trap nets | 8% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Duck Lake | B | 290 | 30.8/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Ballantyne Lake | B− | 371 | 16.9/net in trap nets | 4% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Lura Lake | C+ | 1,359 | 12.1/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Blue Earth County: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.