Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Clearwater County
31 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Clearwater County; 11 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.
Itasca Lake leads at grade A−, with 20.4 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Minerva Lake is next at B+, 23 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2016 survey, 30% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Ozawindib Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 8-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Itasca Lake | A− | 1,065 | 20.4/net in trap nets | 8% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Minerva Lake | B+ | 230 | 23/net in trap nets | 30% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2016 |
| 3 | Ozawindib Lake | B | 159 | 30.3/net in trap nets | 4% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Long Lost Lake | B− | 539 | 17/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Pickerel Lake | B− | 143 | 28.4/net in trap nets | 3% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Elk Lake | B− | 303 | 22.4/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Long Lake | B− | 159 | 20.3/net in trap nets | 10% | 8" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Big LaSalle Lake | C+ | 235 | 21.4/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Heart Lake | C+ | 225 | 10.2/net in trap nets | 9% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2013 |
| 10 | Pine Lake | C | 1,236 | 2.9/net in trap nets | 8% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Clearwater 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.