Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Mankato
41 surveyed northern pike lakes sit within 25 miles of Mankato; 24 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.
Lura Lake leads at grade A, with 14.2 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey and a 32-inch fish the biggest measured. Madison Lake is next at A, 7 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 26% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Tetonka Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 33-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lura Lake | A | 1,359 | 14.2/net in gill nets | 8% | 32" | 4 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Madison Lake | A | 1,447 | 7/net in gill nets | 26% | 39" | 5.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Tetonka Lake | A− | 1,358 | 6.6/net in gill nets | 12% | 33" | 3.8 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Frances Lake | B+ | 927 | 7.9/net in gill nets | 2% | 35" | 1.3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Sabre Lake | B+ | 258 | 9.1/net in gill nets | 6% | 41" | 2.4 lb | 2021 |
| 6 | Clear Lake | B+ | 279 | 7.4/net in gill nets | 28% | 36" | 5 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | East Jefferson Lake | B+ | 685 | 5.8/net in gill nets | 9% | 34" | 2.5 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | German Lake | B | 889 | 4.4/net in gill nets | 7% | 35" | 3.4 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Reeds Lake | B | 195 | 9.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 38" | 2.9 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Sunfish Lake | B | 121 | 10/net in gill nets | 17% | 33" | 4.9 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked near Mankato: Walleye · Largemouth 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.