Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Carver County
32 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Carver County; 16 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.
Minnewashta Lake leads at grade A, with 17.6 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 33-inch fish the biggest measured. Parley Lake is next at A−, 17 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 11% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Riley Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 38-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnewashta Lake | A | 680 | 17.6/net in gill nets | 4% | 33" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Parley Lake | A− | 258 | 17/net in gill nets | 11% | 35" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Riley Lake | B+ | 296 | 9.8/net in gill nets | 24% | 38" | 4.2 lb | 2021 |
| 4 | Waconia Lake | B+ | 3,080 | 2.7/net in gill nets | 25% | 35" | 4.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Auburn Lake | B+ | 291 | 10.8/net in gill nets | 9% | 32" | 3.1 lb | 2022 |
| 6 | Hydes Lake | B | 222 | 15.6/net in gill nets | 1% | 32" | 2.4 lb | 2017 |
| 7 | Ann Lake | B | 116 | 17.3/net in gill nets | 2% | 33" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Zumbra-Sunny Lake | B− | 271 | 12.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 28" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Steiger Lake | B− | 166 | 9.3/net in gill nets | 7% | 32" | 2.8 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Bavaria Lake | B− | 167 | 6.8/net in gill nets | 18% | 34" | 3.5 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Carver 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.