Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Grand Rapids
The DNR has surveyed northern pike in 205 lakes within 25 miles of Grand Rapids. Of those, 77 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.
Pokegama Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 9.8 northern pike per gill net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 34 inches. Hill Lake is second at A−, with 8.3 northern pike per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 8% of its northern pike measured over 30 inches. Spider Lake is third at A−, and its biggest northern pike was 34 inches.
| # | 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 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.