Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Pine County
46 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Pine County; 13 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.
Island Lake leads at grade A−, with 41.1 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Sturgeon Lake is next at A−, 12 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 44% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Sand Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Island Lake | A− | 527 | 41.1/net in trap nets | 12% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Sturgeon Lake | A− | 1,706 | 12/net in trap nets | 44% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Sand Lake | B+ | 527 | 20.6/net in trap nets | 7% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Pokegama Lake | B− | 1,522 | 3.6/net in trap nets | 38% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Cross Lake | B− | 925 | 4.4/net in trap nets | 52% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Big Pine Lake | B− | 399 | 10.1/net in trap nets | 5% | 18" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Grindstone Lake | B− | 533 | 11.8/net in trap nets | 3% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Fox Lake | B− | 200 | 13.9/net in trap nets | 37% | 8" | 0.3 lb | 2014 |
| 9 | Oak Lake | C+ | 459 | 16/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Upper Pine Lake | C+ | 233 | 20.8/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Pine County: 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.