Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Todd County
44 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Todd County; 30 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.
Lake Osakis leads at grade A, with 17.3 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Pine Island Lake is next at B+, 36.3 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey, 5% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Big Swan 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 | Lake Osakis | A | 6,389 | 17.3/net in trap nets | 9% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Pine Island Lake | B+ | 238 | 36.3/net in trap nets | 5% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Big Swan Lake | B | 947 | 12.7/net in trap nets | 3% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Fawn Lake | B | 125 | 201.3/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | — | 2018 |
| 5 | Charlotte Lake | B | 144 | 29.9/net in trap nets | 3% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Big Lake | B | 297 | 20.8/net in trap nets | 10% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Latimer Lake | B | 202 | 76.4/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2020 |
| 8 | Sauk Lake | B | 2,126 | — | 16% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Little Sauk Lake | B | 278 | — | 60% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Cedar Lake | B | 139 | — | 18% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked in Todd 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.