Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Clearwater County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 31 lakes in Clearwater County. Of those, 11 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.
Itasca Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 20.4 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 9 inches. Minerva Lake is second at B+, with 23 bluegill per trap net in the 2016 survey, and 30% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Ozawindib 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 | 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 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.