Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Blue Earth County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 15 lakes in Blue Earth County. The 4 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Madison Lake is first at B+. The DNR caught 19 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 8 inches. Duck Lake is second at B, with 30.8 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 1% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Ballantyne Lake is third at B−, and its biggest bluegill was 8 inches.
| # | 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 | B− | 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 based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.