Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Clay County
4 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Clay County; the 4 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.
Fifteen Lake leads at grade B+, with 15 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 37-inch fish the biggest measured. Tilde Lake is next at B, 11 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 5% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Silver Lake rounds out the top three at C, a 32-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fifteen Lake | B+ | 154 | 15/net in gill nets | 8% | 37" | 2.4 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Tilde Lake | B | 249 | 11/net in gill nets | 5% | 30" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Silver Lake | C | 115 | 6.2/net in gill nets | 15% | 32" | 3.8 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Lee Lake | C− | 158 | 8/net in gill nets | 0% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2023 |
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.