Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Brainerd
The DNR has surveyed northern pike in 216 lakes within 25 miles of Brainerd. Of those, 116 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Dolney Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 27 northern pike per gill net in the 2017 survey, and the biggest was 37 inches. Lower Mission Lake is second at A, with 16.2 northern pike per gill net in the 2022 survey, and 5% of its northern pike measured over 30 inches. Platte Lake is third at A, and its biggest northern pike was 39 inches.
| # | 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 based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.