Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Grand Rapids
205 surveyed northern pike lakes sit within 25 miles of Grand Rapids; 77 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.
Pokegama Lake leads at grade A−, with 9.8 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 34-inch fish the biggest measured. Hill Lake is next at A−, 8.3 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 8% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Spider 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 | Pokegama Lake | A− | 6,721 | 9.8/net in gill nets | 1% | 34" | 2.5 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Hill Lake | A− | 794 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 8% | 41" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Spider Lake | A− | 1,393 | 6.9/net in gill nets | 11% | 34" | 3.1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Ball Club Lake | A− | 4,335 | 5.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 32" | 2.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Sugar Lake | A− | 699 | 20.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 31" | 1.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Wabana Lake | B+ | 2,221 | 3.9/net in gill nets | 12% | 37" | 3.7 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Bass Lake | B+ | 2,715 | 6.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 31" | 1.3 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Vermillion Lake | B+ | 410 | 12.3/net in gill nets | 5% | 33" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Burrows Lake | B+ | 306 | 10.2/net in gill nets | 8% | 37" | 2.5 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Sand Lake | B+ | 195 | 10.8/net in gill nets | 10% | 40" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Grand Rapids: 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.