Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in St. Louis County
277 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in St. Louis County; 103 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.
High Lake leads at grade A, with 108.8 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Vermilion Lake is next at A, 14.3 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 12% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Bass 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 | High Lake | A | 274 | 108.8/net in trap nets | 8% | 10" | — | 2024 |
| 2 | Vermilion Lake | A | 39,272 | 14.3/net in trap nets | 12% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Bass Lake | A | 244 | 63.6/net in trap nets | 25% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Low Lake | A− | 316 | 45.7/net in trap nets | 22% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Wild Rice Lake | A− | 2,372 | 11.3/net in trap nets | 45% | 9" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Fish Lake Flowage | B+ | 3,259 | 10.4/net in trap nets | 11% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Bear Island Lake | B+ | 2,363 | 10.7/net in trap nets | 13% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Half Moon Lake | B+ | 162 | 107.1/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | — | 2011 |
| 9 | Fourteen Lake | B+ | 386 | 36.8/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | — | 2010 |
| 10 | Bear Head Lake | B+ | 662 | 24.8/net in trap nets | 3% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in St. Louis County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.