Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Cook County
41 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Cook County; 13 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.
Christine Lake leads at grade B, with 17.6 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Hungry Jack Lake is next at B, 14.9 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2020 survey, 3% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. White Pine Lake rounds out the top three at C+, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christine Lake | B | 184 | 17.6/net in trap nets | 7% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Hungry Jack Lake | B | 474 | 14.9/net in trap nets | 3% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2020 |
| 3 | White Pine Lake | C+ | 346 | 6.8/net in trap nets | 15% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Gull Lake | C+ | 168 | — | 0% | 2" | — | 2017 |
| 5 | Gunflint Lake | C+ | 4,009 | — | 0% | 6" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Homer Lake | C+ | 434 | — | 0% | 3" | — | 2022 |
| 7 | East Bearskin Lake | C+ | 593 | — | 0% | 1" | — | 2024 |
| 8 | Larch Lake | C+ | 132 | — | 0% | 4" | — | 2025 |
| 9 | Aspen Lake | C+ | 141 | — | 0% | 1" | — | 2020 |
| 10 | Clara Lake | C+ | 388 | 4.2/net in trap nets | 38% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Cook County: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.