Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in McLeod County
10 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in McLeod County; the 6 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.
Cedar Lake leads at grade A−, with 6.8 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2018 survey and a 34-inch fish the biggest measured. Hook Lake is next at B+, 15.8 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2019 survey, 2% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Otter Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 32-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Lake | A− | 1,860 | 6.8/net in gill nets | 5% | 34" | 3.2 lb | 2018 |
| 2 | Hook Lake | B+ | 330 | 15.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 33" | 2.2 lb | 2019 |
| 3 | Otter Lake | B | 642 | 5.9/net in gill nets | 7% | 32" | 2.6 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Todd Lake | C+ | 214 | — | 5% | 31" | 1.1 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Stahl's Lake | C | 141 | 10/net in gill nets | 1% | 30" | 2.1 lb | 2018 |
| 6 | Marion Lake | C | 520 | 3.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 32" | 2.6 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in McLeod 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.