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Best bluegill lakes in North Dakota

68 North Dakota waters hold bluegill, 63 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. Lake Ashtabula — 42 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
2. Jamestown Reservoir — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
3. Missouri River — 31 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites
4. Heart Butte Reservoir (Lake Tschida) — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites
5. Bowman-Haley Dam — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
6. Lake Metigoshe — 23 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
7. New Johns Lake — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
8. Riverdale Spillway Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, BluegillWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
9. Dickinson Reservoir (Patterson Lake) — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
10. Pheasant Lake — 19 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Upsilon Lake — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Lake Lamoure — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Short Creek Dam — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. East Park Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Sweet Briar Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
16. Tolna Dam — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Smishek Lake — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Lueck Lake — 19 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Jasper Lake — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Nelson Lake — 32 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Common CarpWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
21. Northgate Dam — 23 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Froelich Dam — 34 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. North Golden Lake — 12 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
24. Lake Elsie — 19 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
25. Brewer Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 43 more North Dakota waters holding bluegill.

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When to fish bluegill in North Dakota

• 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 North Dakota: 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 rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best goldeye lakes

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