Bluegill Fishing in Minnesota
Minnesota’s most abundant panfish. Bluegills are found in nearly every lake and are a favorite for kids and ice fishing.
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Minnesota's most abundant panfish. Bluegills are found in nearly every lake and are a favorite for kids and ice fishing.
Size Limit
No minimum
Daily Bag
20 (combined sunfish)
Season
Year-round
State Record
2 lb 13 oz
Alice Lake (1984)
Best Months to Fish
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
What to Use
Live Bait & Natural
Wax wormsNightcrawlersCricketsSpikes
Lures & Artificials
Small jigsIce fliesTiny spinnersFly rod poppers
Minnesota Lakes with Bluegill
2301 lakes in our directory have bluegill — sorted by size.
Mille Lacs
Mille Lacs County
128,250.02 acres
Red (Upper Red)
Beltrami County
119,294.35 acres
Leech
Cass County
103,443.8 acres
Winnibigoshish
Cass County
56,471.4 acres
Vermilion
St. Louis County
39,272.25 acres
Basswood
Lake County
25,952.96 acres
Namakan
St. Louis County
24,066.28 acres
Kabetogama
St. Louis County
24,034 acres
Cass
Beltrami County
15,958.25 acres
Minnetonka
Hennepin County
14,205.54 acres
Otter Tail
Otter Tail County
14,078.61 acres
Big Stone
Big Stone County
11,983.83 acres
Regulation Notes
Combined sunfish/bluegill bag. Some lakes have reduced limits.
More Minnesota Fish Species
Plan Your Bluegill Trip
Find lakes, guides, and bait shops for your next bluegill fishing trip in Minnesota.
Explore Lakes Find a Guide Bait & TackleRegulations shown are statewide defaults. Some waters have special regulations — always check the current Minnesota DNR regulations before fishing. A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+.