Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes near St. Paul
181 surveyed bluegill lakes sit within 25 miles of St. Paul; 52 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.
Medicine Lake leads at grade A−, with 33 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2023 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Long Lake is next at B+, 65.4 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2023 survey, 1% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Harriet 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 | Medicine Lake | A− | 924 | 33/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Long Lake | B+ | 285 | 65.4/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Harriet Lake | B+ | 341 | 64.6/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Lower Prior Lake | B+ | 956 | 31.6/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Bde Maka Ska Lake | B+ | 424 | 58.1/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Upper Prior Lake | B+ | 386 | 31.4/net in trap nets | 8% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Christmas Lake | B+ | 267 | 61.7/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Peltier Lake | B | 552 | 15.4/net in trap nets | 13% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Lotus Lake | B | 245 | 146.6/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Nokomis Lake | B | 201 | 110.1/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked near St. Paul: Walleye · Northern pike · Muskellunge · 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.