Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Murray County
13 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Murray County; the 5 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.
Buffalo Lake leads at grade B+, with 15.5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 34-inch fish the biggest measured. Shetek Lake is next at B+, 4.5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 2% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Lime 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 | Buffalo Lake | B+ | 127 | 15.5/net in gill nets | 13% | 34" | 3.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Shetek Lake | B+ | 3,462 | 4.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 32" | 1.3 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Lime Lake | B− | 326 | — | 7% | 32" | 2.7 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Bloody Lake | C+ | 274 | — | 0% | 24" | 0.5 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Louisa Lake | C+ | 230 | — | 0% | 16" | — | 2018 |
Also ranked in Murray County: Walleye · 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.