Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Waseca County
The DNR has surveyed bluegill in 7 lakes in Waseca County. The 4 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Reeds Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 122.4 bluegill per trap net in the 2022 survey, and the biggest was 9 inches. Clear Lake is second at A−, with 41.8 bluegill per trap net in the 2024 survey, and 2% of its bluegill measured over 8 inches. Elysian (Main 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 | Reeds Lake | A− | 195 | 122.4/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | — | 2022 |
| 2 | Clear Lake | A− | 649 | 41.8/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Elysian (Main Lake) | B | 2,215 | 5.9/net in trap nets | 18% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Loon Lake | C− | 125 | 4.6/net in trap nets | 63% | 9" | 0.4 lb | 2023 |
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.