Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Stearns County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 73 lakes in Stearns County. Of those, 35 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Koronis (main lake) is first at A−. The DNR caught 37.1 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 8 inches. Rice Lake is second at A−, with 29.4 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and 1% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Grand Lake is third at B+, and its biggest bluegill was 8 inches.
| # | 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 based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.