Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Douglas County
63 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Douglas County; 39 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.
Lake Moses leads at grade A, with 12.8 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 36-inch fish the biggest measured. Lake Darling is next at A, 20.5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey, 4% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Mill Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 35-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Moses | A | 824 | 12.8/net in gill nets | 14% | 36" | 2.6 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Lake Darling | A | 1,050 | 20.5/net in gill nets | 4% | 32" | 2.2 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Mill Lake | A | 451 | 20.3/net in gill nets | 3% | 35" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Lake Ida | A− | 4,445 | 4.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 3.2 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Lake Aaron | A− | 610 | 15.7/net in gill nets | 1% | 35" | 1.2 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Lake Latoka | A− | 767 | 14.9/net in gill nets | 2% | 30" | 1.4 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | Lake Louise | B+ | 215 | 15.8/net in gill nets | 4% | 35" | 2.1 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Lake Mary | B+ | 2,450 | 6.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 32" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Lobster Lake | B+ | 1,334 | 9.2/net in gill nets | 2% | 32" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Long Lake | B+ | 202 | 12.3/net in gill nets | 9% | 37" | 2.8 lb | 2019 |
Also ranked in Douglas County: Walleye · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.