Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes near Mankato
44 surveyed bluegill lakes sit within 25 miles of Mankato; 24 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.
German Lake leads at grade A−, with 35.3 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Reeds Lake is next at A−, 122.4 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2022 survey, 2% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. East Jefferson Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 8-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.