Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes near Alexandria
97 surveyed bluegill lakes sit within 25 miles of Alexandria; 73 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.
Lake Miltona leads at grade A, with 29.3 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2023 survey and a 13-inch fish the biggest measured. Lake Minnewaska is next at A, 57.5 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 14% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Lake Reno 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 | Lake Miltona | A | 5,731 | 29.3/net in trap nets | 2% | 13" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Lake Minnewaska | A | 8,050 | 57.5/net in trap nets | 14% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Lake Reno | A | 3,809 | 18.7/net in trap nets | 10% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Lake Moses | A | 824 | 30.6/net in trap nets | 30% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Lake Aaron | A | 610 | 54.9/net in trap nets | 12% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Lake Osakis | A | 6,389 | 17.3/net in trap nets | 9% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Fish Lake | A | 489 | 39.8/net in trap nets | 24% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Lake Ida | A | 4,445 | 33.2/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Mill Lake | A− | 451 | 46.1/net in trap nets | 32% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Little Chippewa Lake | A− | 271 | 66.3/net in trap nets | 12% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Alexandria: 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.