Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Grant County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 8 lakes in Grant County. The 5 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Pomme de Terre Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 25.3 bluegill per trap net in the 2023 survey, and the biggest was 9 inches. Pelican Lake is second at A−, with 22.8 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 1% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Elk 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 | Pomme de Terre Lake | A− | 1,816 | 25.3/net in trap nets | 6% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Pelican Lake | A− | 3,761 | 22.8/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Elk Lake | B+ | 207 | 106.1/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 4 | Lightning Lake | C+ | 541 | — | 0% | 5" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Barrett Lake | C | 530 | 3.9/net in trap nets | 36% | 9" | 0.4 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Grant 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.