Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Beltrami County
70 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Beltrami County; 38 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.
Red (Upper Red) Lake leads at grade A+, with 1.2 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 41-inch fish the biggest measured. Cass Lake is next at A, 3 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 6% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Clearwater Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 40-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.