Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes near Bemidji
112 surveyed bluegill lakes sit within 25 miles of Bemidji; 55 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.
Grace Lake leads at grade A−, with 31.7 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Big Lake is next at A−, 14.2 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 15% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Big Bass (east basin) Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 8-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grace Lake | A− | 860 | 31.7/net in trap nets | 6% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Big Lake | A− | 3,598 | 14.2/net in trap nets | 15% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Big Bass (east basin) Lake | A− | 337 | 77.1/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Itasca Lake | A− | 1,065 | 20.4/net in trap nets | 8% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Paine Lake | B+ | 240 | 31.8/net in trap nets | 6% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2016 |
| 6 | Midge Lake | B+ | 546 | 41.3/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2021 |
| 7 | Minerva Lake | B+ | 230 | 23/net in trap nets | 30% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2016 |
| 8 | Balm Lake | B+ | 537 | 17/net in trap nets | 25% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Thirteen Lake | B+ | 555 | 14.4/net in trap nets | 17% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Movil Lake | B+ | 855 | 13.7/net in trap nets | 12% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Bemidji: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · 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.