Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Carver County
32 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Carver County; 18 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.
Bavaria Lake leads at grade B+, with 122.8 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 8-inch fish the biggest measured. Minnewashta Lake is next at B+, 29.3 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 2% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Parley 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 | Bavaria Lake | B+ | 167 | 122.8/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Minnewashta Lake | B+ | 680 | 29.3/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Parley Lake | B+ | 258 | 28.4/net in trap nets | 8% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Piersons Lake | B | 267 | 38.7/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Lotus Lake | B | 245 | 146.6/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Waconia Lake | B | 3,080 | 78.1/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Swede Lake | B | 433 | 64.3/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 8 | Oak Lake | B | 333 | 27/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2011 |
| 9 | Zumbra-Sunny Lake | B | 271 | 58.3/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Virginia Lake | B− | 105 | 91.5/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.2 lb | 2009 |
Also ranked in Carver 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.