Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Beltrami County
The DNR has surveyed northern pike in 70 lakes in Beltrami County. Of those, 38 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Red (Upper Red) Lake is first at A+. The DNR caught 1.2 northern pike per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 41 inches. Cass Lake is second at A, with 3 northern pike per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 6% of its northern pike measured over 30 inches. Clearwater Lake is third at A, and its biggest northern pike was 40 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red (Upper Red) Lake | A+ | 119,294 | 1.2/net in gill nets | 15% | 41" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cass Lake | A | 15,958 | 3/net in gill nets | 6% | 37" | 2.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Clearwater Lake | A | 999 | 8.8/net in gill nets | 7% | 40" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Big Bass (east basin) Lake | A | 337 | 18.9/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 1.9 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Turtle River Lake | A | 1,740 | 10/net in gill nets | 3% | 35" | 1.8 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Bemidji (main lake) | A | 6,596 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 10% | 38" | 3.5 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | Blackduck Lake | A | 2,711 | 8.4/net in gill nets | 2% | 37" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Black Lake | A− | 271 | 19.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 34" | 3 lb | 2017 |
| 9 | Movil Lake | A− | 855 | 9.7/net in gill nets | 5% | 35" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Turtle Lake | A− | 1,607 | 8.1/net in gill nets | 8% | 31" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Beltrami County: Walleye · Muskellunge · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best northern pike lakes in Minnesota
Grades are based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.