Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Becker County
81 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Becker County; 55 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.
Big Cormorant Lake leads at grade A, with 7.1 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 37-inch fish the biggest measured. Melissa Lake is next at A, 22.7 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey, 2% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Little Sugar Bush Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 38-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Cormorant Lake | A | 3,657 | 7.1/net in gill nets | 8% | 37" | 3.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Melissa Lake | A | 1,850 | 22.7/net in gill nets | 2% | 34" | 2.1 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Little Sugar Bush Lake | A | 221 | 27.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 38" | 2.2 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Height of Land Lake | A | 3,795 | 12.7/net in gill nets | 2% | 34" | 1.1 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Shell Lake | A | 3,147 | 16.1/net in gill nets | 0% | 37" | 1.2 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Rock Lake | A | 1,196 | 16.6/net in gill nets | 3% | 32" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Little Cormorant Lake | A− | 1,067 | 18.9/net in gill nets | 3% | 31" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Upper Cormorant Lake | A− | 974 | 10.6/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Pearl Lake | A− | 280 | 18.7/net in gill nets | 4% | 39" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Little Floyd Lake | A− | 215 | 30.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 35" | 1.9 lb | 2021 |
Also ranked in Becker 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.