Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best bluegill lakes in Washington County
39 surveyed bluegill lakes sit in Washington County; the 10 ranked here 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.
Forest Lake leads at grade B, with 25.2 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2025 survey and a 7-inch fish the biggest measured. Clear Lake is next at B, 48.6 bluegill per net in trap nets in its 2024 survey, 0% of the bluegill netted over 8 inches. Big Marine 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 | Forest Lake | B | 2,271 | 25.2/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Clear Lake | B | 429 | 48.6/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Big Marine Lake | B− | 1,799 | — | 39% | 9" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Bone Lake | C+ | 221 | — | 19% | 8" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | White Bear Lake | C+ | 2,428 | — | 1% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Square Lake | C+ | 203 | 11.6/net in trap nets | 9% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2016 |
| 7 | Jane Lake | C− | 158 | 22.5/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2019 |
| 8 | DeMontreville Lake | C− | 157 | 21.9/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2019 |
| 9 | Elmo Lake | C− | 257 | 12.8/net in trap nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Big Carnelian Lake | C− | 457 | 5.3/net in trap nets | 2% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Washington County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth 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.