Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Brainerd
216 surveyed northern pike lakes sit within 25 miles of Brainerd; 116 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.
Dolney Lake leads at grade A, with 27 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2017 survey and a 37-inch fish the biggest measured. Lower Mission Lake is next at A, 16.2 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2022 survey, 5% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Platte Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 39-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dolney Lake | A | 272 | 27/net in gill nets | 7% | 37" | 2.9 lb | 2017 |
| 2 | Lower Mission Lake | A | 732 | 16.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 38" | 2.2 lb | 2022 |
| 3 | Platte Lake | A | 1,663 | 14.6/net in gill nets | 2% | 39" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Sylvan Lake | A | 894 | 12.3/net in gill nets | 10% | 37" | 2.1 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Bay Lake | A | 2,330 | 9.9/net in gill nets | 8% | 35" | 1.8 lb | 2021 |
| 6 | North Long Lake | A | 6,190 | 6.3/net in gill nets | 4% | 35" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Gladstone Lake | A | 437 | 20.3/net in gill nets | 3% | 37" | 1.7 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Edward Lake | A | 2,628 | 11.8/net in gill nets | 3% | 34" | 2.5 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Gull Lake | A | 10,010 | 3/net in gill nets | 5% | 42" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Pelican Lake | A | 8,367 | 4.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 34" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Brainerd: 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.