Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Lake County
99 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Lake County; 37 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.
Basswood Lake leads at grade A, with 9.3 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Lax Lake is next at B, 19.4 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 11% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. One Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basswood Lake | A | 25,953 | 9.3/net in trap nets | 22% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Lax Lake | B | 295 | 19.4/net in trap nets | 11% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | One Lake | B | 846 | 8.6/net in trap nets | 19% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | North McDougal Lake | B− | 273 | 7.8/net in trap nets | 86% | 11" | 0.6 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Sand Lake | B− | 487 | 7/net in trap nets | 28% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 6 | Middle McDougal Lake | B− | 104 | 13.5/net in trap nets | 39% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Wood Lake | B− | 617 | — | 20% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2015 |
| 8 | Bald Eagle Lake | B− | 1,243 | — | 100% | 9" | 0.7 lb | 2019 |
| 9 | Ella Hall Lake | B− | 379 | — | 3% | 9" | — | 2017 |
| 10 | Two Lake | C+ | 516 | — | 45% | 8" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Lake 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.