Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Itasca County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 305 lakes in Itasca County. Of those, 113 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.
Pokegama Lake is first at A+. The DNR caught 23.5 bluegill per trap net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 10 inches. Deer Lake is second at A−, with 22.9 bluegill per trap net in the 2023 survey, and 5% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Swan Lake is third at A−, and its biggest bluegill was 10 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokegama Lake | A+ | 6,721 | 23.5/net in trap nets | 24% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Deer Lake | A− | 4,094 | 22.9/net in trap nets | 5% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Swan Lake | A− | 2,456 | 11.3/net in trap nets | 26% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Wabana Lake | A− | 2,221 | 19.9/net in trap nets | 4% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Deer Lake | A− | 1,855 | 13/net in trap nets | 23% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Shallow Lake | B+ | 539 | 27.1/net in trap nets | 8% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Johnson Lake | B+ | 304 | 32.4/net in trap nets | 9% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2018 |
| 8 | Wasson Lake | B+ | 438 | 22.8/net in trap nets | 13% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2010 |
| 9 | Loon Lake | B+ | 231 | 58.9/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Big Dick Lake | B+ | 260 | 57.1/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2008 |
Also ranked in Itasca 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.