Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Clearwater County
35 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Clearwater County; 11 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.
Pine Lake leads at grade A, with 15.8 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey and a 35-inch fish the biggest measured. Long Lost Lake is next at B+, 11.4 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey, 3% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Elk Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 35-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pine Lake | A | 1,236 | 15.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 35" | 2.3 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Long Lost Lake | B+ | 539 | 11.4/net in gill nets | 3% | 32" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Elk Lake | B | 303 | 8/net in gill nets | 8% | 35" | 3.8 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Minerva Lake | B | 230 | 10.8/net in gill nets | 3% | 32" | 2.7 lb | 2016 |
| 5 | Itasca Lake | B | 1,065 | 6.9/net in gill nets | 0% | 29" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Rockstad Lake | B− | 142 | 12.5/net in gill nets | 3% | 31" | 2.2 lb | 2014 |
| 7 | Heart Lake | B− | 225 | 7/net in gill nets | 4% | 37" | 2.1 lb | 2013 |
| 8 | Minnow Lake | B− | 110 | 27.5/net in gill nets | 0% | 25" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Ozawindib Lake | B− | 159 | 5.7/net in gill nets | 15% | 36" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Big LaSalle Lake | B− | 235 | 7.7/net in gill nets | 4% | 32" | 1.9 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Clearwater 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.