Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Douglas County
63 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Douglas County; 45 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.
Lake Miltona leads at grade A, with 29.3 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2023 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Lake Moses is next at A, 30.6 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey, 30% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Lake Aaron 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 | 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 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.