Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes near Minneapolis
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 216 lakes within 25 miles of Minneapolis. Of those, 69 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.
Independence Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 52.2 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 11 inches. Minnetonka Lake is second at A−, with 92 bluegill per trap net in the 2022 survey, and 1% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Medicine 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 | Independence Lake | A | 832 | 52.2/net in trap nets | 1% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Minnetonka Lake | A− | 14,206 | 92/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 3 | Medicine Lake | A− | 924 | 33/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Sarah Lake | A− | 557 | 42.9/net in trap nets | 4% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 5 | Bavaria Lake | B+ | 167 | 122.8/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Long Lake | B+ | 285 | 65.4/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Harriet Lake | B+ | 341 | 64.6/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Spring Lake | B+ | 592 | 39.4/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | McMahon Lake | B+ | 187 | 42/net in trap nets | 5% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Lower Prior Lake | B+ | 956 | 31.6/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Minneapolis: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · 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.