Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Cass County
180 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Cass County; 84 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.
Hovde Lake leads at grade A, with 86.1 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2017 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Winnibigoshish Lake is next at A, 2.9 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 73% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Woman Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hovde Lake | A | 133 | 86.1/net in trap nets | 22% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2017 |
| 2 | Winnibigoshish Lake | A | 56,471 | 2.9/net in trap nets | 73% | 10" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Woman Lake | A− | 5,520 | 19.2/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Boy Lake | A− | 3,308 | 11.7/net in trap nets | 25% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Gull Lake | A− | 10,010 | 28.7/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Moccasin Lake | A− | 272 | 39.7/net in trap nets | 22% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Loon Lake | A− | 232 | 69.7/net in trap nets | 6% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2017 |
| 8 | Pine Mountain Lake | A− | 1,617 | 16.3/net in trap nets | 7% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Widow Lake | B+ | 198 | 40.7/net in trap nets | 13% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Wabedo Lake | B+ | 1,226 | 17.4/net in trap nets | 2% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Cass County: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.