Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes near Brainerd
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 214 lakes within 25 miles of Brainerd. Of those, 114 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.
Whitefish Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 26.2 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 9 inches. Sullivan Lake is second at A−, with 17.8 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 14% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Gladstone Lake is third at A−, and its biggest bluegill was 9 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitefish Lake | A | 7,714 | 26.2/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Sullivan Lake | A− | 1,103 | 17.8/net in trap nets | 14% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Gladstone Lake | A− | 437 | 38.1/net in trap nets | 16% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Gull Lake | A− | 10,010 | 28.7/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Round Lake | A− | 1,650 | 39.4/net in trap nets | 3% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Lower Mission Lake | A− | 732 | 25.3/net in trap nets | 19% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | South Long Lake | A− | 1,309 | 28.6/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Loon Lake | A− | 232 | 69.7/net in trap nets | 6% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2017 |
| 9 | North Long Lake | B+ | 6,190 | 8.9/net in trap nets | 4% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Upper Mission Lake | B+ | 882 | 31.6/net in trap nets | 4% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked near Brainerd: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · 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.