Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Polk County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 15 lakes in Polk County. The 7 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Maple Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 65.2 bluegill per trap net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 9 inches. Badger Lake is second at B−, with 15.7 bluegill per trap net in the 2016 survey, and 7% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Union Lake is third at B−, and its biggest bluegill was 8 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maple Lake | A | 1,641 | 65.2/net in trap nets | 13% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Badger Lake | B− | 256 | 15.7/net in trap nets | 7% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2016 |
| 3 | Union Lake | B− | 888 | 8.3/net in trap nets | 11% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Hill River Lake | C | 102 | 12.1/net in trap nets | 16% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Sarah Lake | C | 366 | 2.7/net in trap nets | 39% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2021 |
| 6 | Crystal Lake | C− | 118 | 8/net in trap nets | 8% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Spring Lake | C− | 134 | 18.3/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Polk County: Walleye · Northern pike · 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.