Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Lake County
237 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Lake County; 56 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.
Crooked Lake leads at grade A, with 4.9 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 38-inch fish the biggest measured. Basswood Lake is next at A, 3 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 14% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Ella Hall 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 | Crooked Lake | A | 10,360 | 4.9/net in gill nets | 8% | 38" | 3.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Basswood Lake | A | 25,953 | 3/net in gill nets | 14% | 39" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Ella Hall Lake | A− | 379 | 17.2/net in gill nets | 2% | 36" | 2.1 lb | 2017 |
| 4 | Snowbank Lake | A− | 4,655 | 2.9/net in gill nets | 9% | 37" | 3.7 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Three Lake | B+ | 904 | 5/net in gill nets | 11% | 39" | 3 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Perent Lake | B+ | 1,598 | 4.2/net in gill nets | 9% | 38" | 2.6 lb | 2019 |
| 7 | Quadga Lake | B+ | 251 | 13.3/net in gill nets | 5% | 31" | 3.2 lb | 2014 |
| 8 | Ninemile Lake | B+ | 297 | 11.5/net in gill nets | 1% | 42" | 1.5 lb | 2019 |
| 9 | Moose Lake | B | 180 | 12.8/net in gill nets | 4% | 32" | 1.8 lb | 2014 |
| 10 | Bald Eagle Lake | B | 1,243 | 3.4/net in gill nets | 26% | 35" | 3.7 lb | 2019 |
Also ranked in Lake 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.