Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes near St. Cloud
127 surveyed bluegill lakes sit within 25 miles of St. Cloud; 63 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.
Somers Lake leads at grade A, with 86.3 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Cedar Lake is next at A−, 37.6 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey, 2% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Grand 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 | Somers Lake | A | 151 | 86.3/net in trap nets | 6% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cedar Lake | A− | 790 | 37.6/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Grand Lake | B+ | 651 | 54.5/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Mink Lake | B+ | 280 | 72.9/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Big Lake | B+ | 458 | 28.2/net in trap nets | 4% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2017 |
| 6 | Sugar Lake | B+ | 1,014 | 17.1/net in trap nets | 3% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Upper Maple Lake | B+ | 633 | 18.2/net in trap nets | 5% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Big Watab Lake | B | 246 | 22.3/net in trap nets | 9% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Indian Lake | B | 139 | 32.6/net in trap nets | 5% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Francis Lake | B | 1,053 | 14.9/net in trap nets | 5% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near St. Cloud: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.