Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes near Willmar
40 surveyed northern pike lakes sit within 25 miles of Willmar; 29 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.
Koronis (main lake) leads at grade A, with 8 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 37-inch fish the biggest measured. Star Lake is next at A, 11.7 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 10% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Florida Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 31-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.