Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Itasca County
305 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Itasca County; 113 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.
Pokegama Lake leads at grade A+, with 23.5 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Deer Lake is next at A−, 22.9 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2023 survey, 5% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Swan Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.