Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Anoka County
21 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Anoka County; the 9 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.
Peltier Lake leads at grade A−, with 13.4 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 36-inch fish the biggest measured. Coon Lake is next at A−, 26.5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 1% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Centerville Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 36-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peltier Lake | A− | 552 | 13.4/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Coon Lake | A− | 1,481 | 26.5/net in gill nets | 1% | 30" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Centerville Lake | A− | 474 | 10/net in gill nets | 30% | 36" | 4.7 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Linwood Lake | A− | 572 | 14.3/net in gill nets | 4% | 31" | 2.3 lb | 2021 |
| 5 | George Lake | B+ | 489 | 18.6/net in gill nets | 0% | 28" | 1.5 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Otter Lake | B | 302 | 12/net in gill nets | 3% | 30" | 1.6 lb | 2019 |
| 7 | Crooked Lake | B− | 115 | 11.5/net in gill nets | 4% | 30" | 2.7 lb | 2021 |
| 8 | Ham Lake | C | 155 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 29" | 2.3 lb | 2016 |
| 9 | Martin Lake | C− | 232 | 3.2/net in gill nets | 16% | 33" | 3.4 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Anoka County: Largemouth 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.