Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Freeborn County
6 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Freeborn County; the 5 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.
Pickeral Lake leads at grade A−, with 14.5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2013 survey and a 33-inch fish the biggest measured. Fountain Lake is next at B, 5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey, 21% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Bear Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 28-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pickeral Lake | A− | 588 | 14.5/net in gill nets | 17% | 33" | 3.4 lb | 2013 |
| 2 | Fountain Lake | B | 522 | 5/net in gill nets | 21% | 39" | 4.4 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Bear Lake | B | 1,033 | 7/net in gill nets | 0% | 28" | 2.3 lb | 2009 |
| 4 | State Line Lake | C+ | 372 | — | 0% | 29" | 3.7 lb | 2017 |
| 5 | Freeborn Lake | C+ | 2,034 | — | 0% | 25" | 0.8 lb | 2021 |
Also ranked in Freeborn County: Crappie · 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.