Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near St. Cloud
125 surveyed northern pike lakes sit within 25 miles of St. Cloud; 67 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.
Sugar Lake leads at grade A, with 10.3 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 38-inch fish the biggest measured. Clearwater Lake is next at A, 9.1 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 6% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Grand 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 | Sugar Lake | A | 1,014 | 10.3/net in gill nets | 10% | 38" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Clearwater Lake | A | 3,187 | 9.1/net in gill nets | 6% | 33" | 2.6 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Grand Lake | A | 651 | 18.1/net in gill nets | 5% | 34" | 2.7 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Two Rivers Lake | A− | 584 | 13.1/net in gill nets | 9% | 35" | 3.1 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Big Spunk Lake | A− | 415 | 20.7/net in gill nets | 2% | 33" | 1.9 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Bass Lake | A− | 223 | 16/net in gill nets | 6% | 37" | 2.8 lb | 2017 |
| 7 | French Lake | A− | 346 | 18.5/net in gill nets | 3% | 34" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | North Brown's Lake | A− | 312 | 17.8/net in gill nets | 4% | 33" | 2.2 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Cedar Lake | A− | 790 | 12.2/net in gill nets | 3% | 31" | 2.9 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Lower Spunk Lake | B+ | 179 | 18/net in gill nets | 6% | 33" | 2.1 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked near St. Cloud: 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.