Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Carver County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 32 lakes in Carver County. Of those, 18 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Bavaria Lake is first at B+. The DNR caught 122.8 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 8 inches. Minnewashta Lake is second at B+, with 29.3 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 2% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Parley Lake is third at B+, and its biggest bluegill was 9 inches.
| # | 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 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.