Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Bemidji
119 surveyed northern pike lakes sit within 25 miles of Bemidji; 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.
Thirteen Lake leads at grade A, with 20.7 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 37-inch fish the biggest measured. Cass Lake is next at A, 3 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 6% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Grace Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 34-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thirteen Lake | A | 555 | 20.7/net in gill nets | 8% | 37" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cass Lake | A | 15,958 | 3/net in gill nets | 6% | 37" | 2.7 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Grace Lake | A | 860 | 15.8/net in gill nets | 6% | 34" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Clearwater Lake | A | 999 | 8.8/net in gill nets | 7% | 40" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Big Bass (east basin) Lake | A | 337 | 18.9/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 1.9 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Turtle River Lake | A | 1,740 | 10/net in gill nets | 3% | 35" | 1.8 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Bemidji (main lake) | A | 6,596 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 10% | 38" | 3.5 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Blackduck Lake | A | 2,711 | 8.4/net in gill nets | 2% | 37" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Evergreen Lake | A− | 213 | 26.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 35" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Black Lake | A− | 271 | 19.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 34" | 3 lb | 2017 |
Also ranked near Bemidji: Walleye · Muskellunge · 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.