Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Sherburne County
22 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Sherburne County; the 10 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.
Elk Lake leads at grade B+, with 31.8 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2017 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Ann Lake is next at B, 103 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2019 survey, 0% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Birch Lake rounds out the top three at B−, a 7-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elk Lake | B+ | 362 | 31.8/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2017 |
| 2 | Ann Lake | B | 183 | 103/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2019 |
| 3 | Birch Lake | B− | 160 | 69.9/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2019 |
| 4 | Mitchell Lake | C+ | 170 | 19.7/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2019 |
| 5 | Rush Lake | C+ | 161 | — | 25% | 8" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Julia Lake | C+ | 155 | — | 0% | 7" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Orono Lake | C+ | 301 | — | 0% | 7" | — | 2021 |
| 8 | Briggs Lake | C+ | 404 | — | 0% | 3" | — | 2024 |
| 9 | Big Lake | C− | 254 | 9.8/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2017 |
| 10 | Elk Lake | C− | 357 | 8.8/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.2 lb | 2019 |
Also ranked in Sherburne 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.