Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Minneapolis
185 surveyed northern pike lakes sit within 25 miles of Minneapolis; 64 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.
Minnetonka Lake leads at grade A, with 12.2 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2022 survey and a 35-inch fish the biggest measured. Medicine Lake is next at A, 13.6 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 15% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Minnewashta 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 | Minnetonka Lake | A | 14,206 | 12.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 35" | 2.5 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Medicine Lake | A | 924 | 13.6/net in gill nets | 15% | 36" | 2.9 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Minnewashta Lake | A | 680 | 17.6/net in gill nets | 4% | 33" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | White Bear Lake | A | 2,428 | 10.9/net in gill nets | 4% | 32" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Peltier Lake | A− | 552 | 13.4/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Eagle Lake | A− | 296 | 15.7/net in gill nets | 11% | 36" | 3.5 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Parley Lake | A− | 258 | 17/net in gill nets | 11% | 35" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Sarah Lake | A− | 557 | 10.2/net in gill nets | 18% | 36" | 3.2 lb | 2022 |
| 9 | Coon Lake | A− | 1,481 | 26.5/net in gill nets | 1% | 30" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Centerville Lake | A− | 474 | 10/net in gill nets | 30% | 36" | 4.7 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Minneapolis: Walleye · Muskellunge · 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.