Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Aitkin County
100 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Aitkin County; 45 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. The top 10 are ranked here.
Rice Lake leads at grade A, with 9 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2019 survey and a 32-inch fish the biggest measured. Hill Lake is next at A−, 8.3 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 8% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Elm Island Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 34-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rice Lake | A | 3,684 | 9/net in gill nets | 19% | 32" | 3.6 lb | 2019 |
| 2 | Hill Lake | A− | 794 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 8% | 41" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Elm Island Lake | A− | 520 | 12.6/net in gill nets | 8% | 34" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Minnewawa Lake | A− | 2,351 | 7.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 34" | 1.7 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Big Sandy Lake | A− | 6,125 | 4/net in gill nets | 2% | 37" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Sugar Lake | A− | 416 | 9.8/net in gill nets | 9% | 37" | 2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Lone Lake | A− | 434 | 13.2/net in gill nets | 4% | 33" | 1.7 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Round Lake | B+ | 737 | 11.2/net in gill nets | 2% | 34" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Ripple Lake | B+ | 631 | 8.4/net in gill nets | 11% | 33" | 2.7 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Spirit Lake | B+ | 523 | 10/net in gill nets | 5% | 35" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Aitkin County: Walleye · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best northern pike 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.