Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Carlton County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 33 lakes in Carlton County. The 10 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.
Hanging Horn Lake is first at B−. The DNR caught 11.1 bluegill per trap net in the 2020 survey, and the biggest was 9 inches. Lower (South) Island Lake is second at B−, with 13.4 bluegill per trap net in the 2024 survey, and 5% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Park 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 | Hanging Horn Lake | B− | 409 | 11.1/net in trap nets | 10% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2020 |
| 2 | Lower (South) Island Lake | B− | 320 | 13.4/net in trap nets | 5% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Park Lake | B− | 381 | 15/net in trap nets | 4% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Moose Lake | C+ | 133 | 30.2/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2009 |
| 5 | Eagle Lake | C+ | 389 | 6.2/net in trap nets | 15% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Big Lake | C+ | 526 | 10.9/net in trap nets | 0% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2020 |
| 7 | Moosehead Lake | C+ | 279 | 7/net in trap nets | 23% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Cole Lake | C | 142 | 17.7/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2016 |
| 9 | Bear Lake | C | 100 | 15.5/net in trap nets | 6% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2015 |
| 10 | Chub Lake | C− | 313 | 8.4/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2020 |
Also ranked in Carlton 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.