Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Meeker County
31 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Meeker County; 22 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.
Star Lake leads at grade A, with 11.7 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey and a 38-inch fish the biggest measured. Long Lake is next at A−, 15 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 2% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Spring Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 33-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Lake | A | 553 | 11.7/net in gill nets | 10% | 38" | 3.1 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Long Lake | A− | 783 | 15/net in gill nets | 2% | 33" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Spring Lake | B+ | 201 | 19.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 33" | 2.6 lb | 2018 |
| 4 | Arvilla Lake | B+ | 138 | 13.5/net in gill nets | 9% | 37" | 3.2 lb | 2018 |
| 5 | Ripley (west portion) Lake | B+ | 614 | 15.1/net in gill nets | 0% | 29" | 1.8 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Francis Lake | B+ | 1,053 | 12.6/net in gill nets | 0% | 38" | 1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Jennie Lake | B+ | 1,069 | 5.7/net in gill nets | 4% | 34" | 2.9 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Round Lake | B+ | 266 | 18.2/net in gill nets | 1% | 31" | 1.9 lb | 2020 |
| 9 | Washington Lake | B | 2,438 | 3.2/net in gill nets | 6% | 34" | 3 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Big Swan Lake | B | 684 | 7.9/net in gill nets | 2% | 34" | 2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Meeker 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.