Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Rice County
18 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Rice 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.
Phelps Lake leads at grade A, with 282.5 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2015 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Cedar Lake is next at A−, 46.6 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 2% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Mazaska Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phelps Lake | A | 303 | 282.5/net in trap nets | 6% | 9" | — | 2015 |
| 2 | Cedar Lake | A− | 902 | 46.6/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Mazaska Lake | A− | 688 | 19.9/net in trap nets | 8% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Kelly & Dudley Lake | B+ | 128 | 45.4/net in trap nets | 18% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
| 5 | Fox Lake | B+ | 312 | 26.3/net in trap nets | 5% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Rice Lake | B+ | 331 | 47.7/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2015 |
| 7 | French Lake | B | 876 | 16.8/net in trap nets | 3% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Roberds Lake | B− | 632 | 9/net in trap nets | 6% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Cannon Lake | B− | 1,593 | 14.7/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Caron Lake | C+ | 319 | — | 0% | 6" | — | 2017 |
Also ranked in Rice 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.