Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Carlton County
32 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Carlton County; the 10 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.
Big Lake leads at grade A−, with 11.9 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2020 survey and a 37-inch fish the biggest measured. Park Lake is next at B, 9.4 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 3% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Chub Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 31-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Lake | A− | 526 | 11.9/net in gill nets | 4% | 37" | 2 lb | 2020 |
| 2 | Park Lake | B | 381 | 9.4/net in gill nets | 3% | 32" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Chub Lake | B | 313 | 13.1/net in gill nets | 1% | 31" | 1.5 lb | 2020 |
| 4 | Lower (South) Island Lake | B | 320 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 4% | 33" | 2 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Hay Lake | C | 140 | 4.7/net in gill nets | 10% | 39" | 2.2 lb | 2021 |
| 6 | Moosehead Lake | C | 279 | 5/net in gill nets | 5% | 31" | 2.5 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Cole Lake | C | 142 | 5.6/net in gill nets | 3% | 35" | 2 lb | 2016 |
| 8 | Upper (North) Island Lake | C− | 114 | 9.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 29" | 1.7 lb | 2021 |
| 9 | Moose Lake | C− | 133 | 9/net in gill nets | 0% | 28" | 2 lb | 2009 |
| 10 | Sand Lake | C− | 128 | 4.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 33" | 1.2 lb | 2016 |
Also ranked in Carlton County: Walleye · 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.