Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Douglas County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 63 lakes in Douglas County. Of those, 45 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.
Lake Miltona is first at A. The DNR caught 29.3 bluegill per trap net in the 2023 survey, and the biggest was 13 inches. Lake Moses is second at A, with 30.6 bluegill per trap net in the 2024 survey, and 30% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Lake Aaron is third at A, and its biggest bluegill was 9 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Miltona | A | 5,731 | 29.3/net in trap nets | 2% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Lake Moses | A | 824 | 30.6/net in trap nets | 30% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Lake Aaron | A | 610 | 54.9/net in trap nets | 12% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Lake Ida | A | 4,445 | 33.2/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Mill Lake | A− | 451 | 46.1/net in trap nets | 32% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Little Chippewa Lake | A− | 271 | 66.3/net in trap nets | 12% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Lake Andrew | A− | 923 | 30.6/net in trap nets | 14% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Lake Irene | A− | 639 | 21.4/net in trap nets | 22% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 9 | Lake Le Homme Dieu | A− | 1,801 | 30.8/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Lake Mary | A− | 2,450 | 23.3/net in trap nets | 4% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Douglas County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.