Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Martin County
19 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Martin County; the 7 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.
Bright Lake leads at grade A−, with 17 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 34-inch fish the biggest measured. Cedar Lake is next at B, 7 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2022 survey, 3% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Sisseton Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 37-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bright Lake | A− | 639 | 17/net in gill nets | 3% | 34" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cedar Lake | B | 707 | 7/net in gill nets | 3% | 31" | 2.9 lb | 2022 |
| 3 | Sisseton Lake | B | 138 | — | 20% | 37" | 6.6 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Perch Lake | C+ | 174 | — | 6% | 31" | 3.5 lb | 2014 |
| 5 | East Chain Lake | C+ | 481 | — | 0% | 28" | 3.5 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | South Silver Lake | C+ | 252 | — | 0% | 28" | 4.2 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | Imogene Lake | C+ | 186 | — | 0% | 27" | 4.4 lb | 2021 |
Also ranked in Martin County: Walleye · Largemouth bass · 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.