Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Lyon County
The DNR has surveyed northern pike in 10 lakes in Lyon County. The 4 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
West Twin Lake is first at B. The DNR caught 10 northern pike per gill net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 32 inches. Yankton Lake is second at C+. None of its northern pike measured over 30 inches. Island Lake is third at C, and its biggest northern pike was 33 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Twin Lake | B | 220 | 10/net in gill nets | 6% | 32" | 3 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Yankton Lake | C+ | 403 | — | 0% | 26" | 3.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Island Lake | C | 170 | 3/net in gill nets | 39% | 33" | 5.1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Cottonwood Lake | C | 383 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 6% | 32" | 3 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Lyon County: Walleye · Crappie · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best northern pike lakes in Minnesota
Grades are based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.