Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes near Alexandria
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 97 lakes within 25 miles of Alexandria. Of those, 73 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.
Lake Miltona is first at A. The DNR caught 29.3 bluegill per trap net in the 2023 survey, and the biggest was 13 inches. Lake Minnewaska is second at A, with 57.5 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 14% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Lake Reno 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 | 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 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.