Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Willmar
The DNR has surveyed northern pike in 40 lakes within 25 miles of Willmar. Of those, 29 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.
Koronis (main lake) is first at A. The DNR caught 8 northern pike per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 37 inches. Star Lake is second at A, with 11.7 northern pike per gill net in the 2023 survey, and 10% of its northern pike measured over 30 inches. Florida Lake is third at A−, and its biggest northern pike was 31 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koronis (main lake) | A | 2,968 | 8/net in gill nets | 19% | 37" | 4.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Star Lake | A | 553 | 11.7/net in gill nets | 10% | 38" | 3.1 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Florida Lake | A− | 705 | 19/net in gill nets | 3% | 31" | 2.1 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Elizabeth (Main Lake) | A− | 1,024 | 16/net in gill nets | 1% | 31" | 2.3 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Ringo Lake | A− | 735 | 10.5/net in gill nets | 10% | 33" | 2.6 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | East Solomon Lake | A− | 658 | 12/net in gill nets | 6% | 33" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Long Lake | A− | 783 | 15/net in gill nets | 2% | 33" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Andrew Lake | A− | 759 | 10.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 33" | 2.1 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Eagle Lake | A− | 850 | 12/net in gill nets | 3% | 32" | 2.7 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Foot Lake | B+ | 503 | 11/net in gill nets | 5% | 34" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked near Willmar: Walleye · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · 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.