Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes near Mankato
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 44 lakes within 25 miles of Mankato. Of those, 24 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.
German Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 35.3 bluegill per trap net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 9 inches. Reeds Lake is second at A−, with 122.4 bluegill per trap net in the 2022 survey, and 2% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. East Jefferson Lake is third at B+, and its biggest bluegill was 8 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German Lake | A− | 889 | 35.3/net in trap nets | 16% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Reeds Lake | A− | 195 | 122.4/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | — | 2022 |
| 3 | East Jefferson Lake | B+ | 685 | 36.7/net in trap nets | 4% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Madison Lake | B+ | 1,447 | 19/net in trap nets | 8% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | West Jefferson Lake | B+ | 439 | 47.7/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Middle Jefferson Lake | B+ | 667 | 33.9/net in trap nets | 4% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2018 |
| 7 | Volney Lake | B+ | 269 | 27/net in trap nets | 37% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Greenleaf Lake | B+ | 302 | 34.2/net in trap nets | 3% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Frances Lake | B+ | 927 | 14/net in trap nets | 6% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Elysian (Main Lake) | B | 2,215 | 5.9/net in trap nets | 18% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked near Mankato: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth 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.