Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Todd County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 44 lakes in Todd County. Of those, 30 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.
Lake Osakis is first at A. The DNR caught 17.3 bluegill per trap net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 9 inches. Pine Island Lake is second at B+, with 36.3 bluegill per trap net in the 2024 survey, and 5% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Big Swan Lake is third at B, and its biggest bluegill was 9 inches.
| # | 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 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.