Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Blue Earth County
The DNR has surveyed northern pike in 14 lakes in Blue Earth County. The 6 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Lura Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 14.2 northern pike per gill net in the 2023 survey, and the biggest was 32 inches. Madison Lake is second at A, with 7 northern pike per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 26% of its northern pike measured over 30 inches. Ballantyne Lake is third at C+, and its biggest northern pike was 34 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lura Lake | A | 1,359 | 14.2/net in gill nets | 8% | 32" | 4 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Madison Lake | A | 1,447 | 7/net in gill nets | 26% | 39" | 5.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Ballantyne Lake | C+ | 371 | 5/net in gill nets | 6% | 34" | 3 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Duck Lake | C | 290 | 2/net in gill nets | 59% | 37" | 6 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Loon Lake | C− | 809 | 1.7/net in gill nets | 18% | 31" | 3.4 lb | 2022 |
| 6 | Crystal Lake | C− | 379 | 1.8/net in gill nets | 11% | 35" | 3.3 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Blue Earth County: Walleye · 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.