Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Scott County
22 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Scott County; the 9 ranked here 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.
Cedar Lake leads at grade A−, with 22.8 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2021 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Spring Lake is next at B+, 39.4 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 1% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. McMahon Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Lake | A− | 793 | 22.8/net in trap nets | 31% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2021 |
| 2 | Spring Lake | B+ | 592 | 39.4/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | McMahon Lake | B+ | 187 | 42/net in trap nets | 5% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Lower Prior Lake | B+ | 956 | 31.6/net in trap nets | 2% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Upper Prior Lake | B+ | 386 | 31.4/net in trap nets | 8% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Fish Lake | B+ | 176 | 41.8/net in trap nets | 8% | 8" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Thole Lake | B− | 119 | 65/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | O'Dowd Lake | B− | 301 | 22.4/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 9 | Cleary Lake | B− | 145 | 31/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2017 |
Also ranked in Scott 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.