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Best bluegill lakes in Iowa

179 Iowa waters hold bluegill, 177 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic panfish. Shallow cover in summer, deeper weed edges otherwise.

1. West Okoboji Lake — 135 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
2. Mississippi River Pool 19 (Keokuk) — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
3. Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton) — 53 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
4. East Okoboji Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
5. Clear Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
6. DeSoto Bend at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Desoto Bend — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, CrappieWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Big Creek Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
9. Five Island Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
10. Three Mile Lake — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
11. Twelve Mile Creek Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
12. Lake Macbride — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 10 public access sites
13. Brushy Creek Lake — 72 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
14. Rice Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
15. Lake Icaria — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
16. Lake Sugema — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
17. Trumbull Lake — 4 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
18. Snyder Bend Lake — 11 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Rock Creek Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
20. Green Valley Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
21. Lost Grove Lake — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
22. Silver Lake (Palo Alto) — 6 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. Blue Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
24. Lake Belva Deer — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
25. Big Hollow Lake — 44 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 154 more Iowa waters holding bluegill.

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When to fish bluegill in Iowa

• Spring 1–6 ft — Bedding colonies on sandy shallow flats — sight-fish the light spots.
• Summer 4–15 ft — Weed edges and dock shade; bigger 'gills hold slightly deeper.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Schools tighten on remaining green weeds and first drops.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Soft-bottom basins with invertebrates; finesse presentations.

Also in Iowa: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes

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