Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Hennepin County
62 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Hennepin County; 20 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.
Minnetonka Lake leads at grade A, with 12.2 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2022 survey and a 35-inch fish the biggest measured. Medicine Lake is next at A, 13.6 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 15% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Eagle Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 36-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnetonka Lake | A | 14,206 | 12.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 35" | 2.5 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Medicine Lake | A | 924 | 13.6/net in gill nets | 15% | 36" | 2.9 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Eagle Lake | A− | 296 | 15.7/net in gill nets | 11% | 36" | 3.5 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Sarah Lake | A− | 557 | 10.2/net in gill nets | 18% | 36" | 3.2 lb | 2022 |
| 5 | Staring Lake | B+ | 167 | 13.8/net in gill nets | 17% | 37" | 4.1 lb | 2022 |
| 6 | Whaletail Lake | B+ | 510 | 9/net in gill nets | 6% | 34" | 3.5 lb | 2021 |
| 7 | Bde Maka Ska Lake | B+ | 424 | 10.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 32" | 2.6 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Harriet Lake | B | 341 | 7.4/net in gill nets | 8% | 38" | 3.4 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Weaver Lake | B | 152 | 9.3/net in gill nets | 15% | 37" | 3.5 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Mitchell Lake | B | 114 | 12/net in gill nets | 15% | 31" | 3.5 lb | 2021 |
Also ranked in Hennepin 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.