Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Stearns County
73 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Stearns County; 35 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.
Koronis (main lake) leads at grade A−, with 37.1 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 8-inch fish the biggest measured. Rice Lake is next at A−, 29.4 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey, 1% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Grand Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 8-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 8" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koronis (main lake) | A− | 2,968 | 37.1/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Rice Lake | A− | 1,513 | 29.4/net in trap nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Grand Lake | B+ | 651 | 54.5/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Big Lake | B+ | 458 | 28.2/net in trap nets | 4% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2017 |
| 5 | St. Anna Lake | B+ | 126 | 46.3/net in trap nets | 3% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Big Watab Lake | B | 246 | 22.3/net in trap nets | 9% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | School Section Lake | B | 211 | 200.4/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | — | 2018 |
| 8 | Big Spunk Lake | B | 415 | 19.2/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Beaver Lake | B | 112 | 51.6/net in trap nets | 1% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2017 |
| 10 | Pine Lake | B | 108 | 50.4/net in trap nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2018 |
Also ranked in Stearns 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.