Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in McLeod County
11 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in McLeod County; the 6 ranked here 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.
Swan Lake leads at grade B, with 20.6 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Cedar Lake is next at B, 43 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2018 survey, 0% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Marion Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swan Lake | B | 352 | 20.6/net in trap nets | 4% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cedar Lake | B | 1,860 | 43/net in trap nets | 0% | 6" | — | 2018 |
| 3 | Marion Lake | B | 520 | — | 22% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Stahl's Lake | B | 141 | 79.8/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2018 |
| 5 | Todd Lake | C | 214 | 23.8/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Silver Lake | C | 453 | 8/net in trap nets | 6% | 8" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in McLeod County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth 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.