Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near St. Paul
153 surveyed northern pike lakes sit within 25 miles of St. Paul; 49 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.
Forest Lake leads at grade A, with 8.7 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 36-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. White Bear Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 32-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forest Lake | A | 2,271 | 8.7/net in gill nets | 13% | 36" | 3.7 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Medicine Lake | A | 924 | 13.6/net in gill nets | 15% | 36" | 2.9 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | White Bear Lake | A | 2,428 | 10.9/net in gill nets | 4% | 32" | 1.8 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Peltier Lake | A− | 552 | 13.4/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Eagle Lake | A− | 296 | 15.7/net in gill nets | 11% | 36" | 3.5 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Coon Lake | A− | 1,481 | 26.5/net in gill nets | 1% | 30" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Centerville Lake | A− | 474 | 10/net in gill nets | 30% | 36" | 4.7 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Staring Lake | B+ | 167 | 13.8/net in gill nets | 17% | 37" | 4.1 lb | 2022 |
| 9 | Riley Lake | B+ | 296 | 9.8/net in gill nets | 24% | 38" | 4.2 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | Bald Eagle Lake | B+ | 1,049 | 6.2/net in gill nets | 8% | 33" | 3.2 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked near St. Paul: 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.