Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Alexandria
98 surveyed northern pike lakes sit within 25 miles of Alexandria; 63 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.
Lake Minnewaska leads at grade A+, with 13.5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 36-inch fish the biggest measured. Grove Lake is next at A, 29.8 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 3% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Lake Osakis rounds out the top three at A, a 36-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Minnewaska | A+ | 8,050 | 13.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Grove Lake | A | 345 | 29.8/net in gill nets | 3% | 37" | 1.7 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Lake Osakis | A | 6,389 | 5.2/net in gill nets | 6% | 36" | 3.2 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Lake Moses | A | 824 | 12.8/net in gill nets | 14% | 36" | 2.6 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Leven Lake | A | 282 | 29/net in gill nets | 2% | 37" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Lake Darling | A | 1,050 | 20.5/net in gill nets | 4% | 32" | 2.2 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Mill Lake | A | 451 | 20.3/net in gill nets | 3% | 35" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Lake Reno | A− | 3,809 | 4.5/net in gill nets | 7% | 37" | 3.2 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Lake Ida | A− | 4,445 | 4.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 3.2 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Lake Aaron | A− | 610 | 15.7/net in gill nets | 1% | 35" | 1.2 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked near Alexandria: 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.