Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Otter Tail County
145 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Otter Tail County; 94 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.
Tenmile Lake leads at grade A, with 33 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Dead Lake is next at A, 33.4 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey, 16% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. West Battle Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tenmile Lake | A | 1,428 | 33/net in trap nets | 12% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Dead Lake | A | 7,546 | 33.4/net in trap nets | 16% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | West Battle Lake | A | 5,615 | 44.3/net in trap nets | 4% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Wall Lake | A | 727 | 77.3/net in trap nets | 9% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Pleasant Lake | A | 385 | 272.2/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | — | 2025 |
| 6 | Star Lake | A | 4,486 | 13.6/net in trap nets | 34% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Fish Lake | A | 489 | 39.8/net in trap nets | 24% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Blanche Lake | A | 1,296 | 39.8/net in trap nets | 6% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | East Spirit Lake | A− | 561 | 151.7/net in trap nets | 6% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2013 |
| 10 | Marion Lake | A− | 1,624 | 48.4/net in trap nets | 12% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Otter Tail County: 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.