Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Minnesota
The DNR has surveyed northern pike in 3,109 Minnesota lakes. Of those, 1,571 earn a grade on this site, and the top 25 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.
Lake of the Woods is first at A+. The DNR caught 1.8 northern pike per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 43 inches. Rainy Lake is second at A+, with 1.9 northern pike per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 16% of its northern pike measured over 30 inches. Kabetogama Lake is third at A+, and its biggest northern pike was 40 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake of the Woods | A+ | 725,583 | 1.8/net in gill nets | 27% | 43" | 4.5 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Rainy Lake | A+ | 210,200 | 1.9/net in gill nets | 16% | 41" | 3.4 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Kabetogama Lake | A+ | 24,034 | 3.4/net in gill nets | 18% | 40" | 3.6 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Mille Lacs Lake | A+ | 128,250 | 1.6/net in gill nets | 18% | 45" | 4.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Lake Minnewaska | A+ | 8,050 | 13.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Maple Lake | A+ | 1,641 | 21.7/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 2.5 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Red (Upper Red) Lake | A+ | 119,294 | 1.2/net in gill nets | 15% | 41" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Leech Lake | A+ | 103,444 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 3% | 36" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Minnetonka Lake | A | 14,206 | 12.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 35" | 2.5 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Thirteen Lake | A | 555 | 20.7/net in gill nets | 8% | 37" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 11 | Grove Lake | A | 345 | 29.8/net in gill nets | 3% | 37" | 1.7 lb | 2023 |
| 12 | Koronis (main lake) | A | 2,968 | 8/net in gill nets | 19% | 37" | 4.1 lb | 2025 |
| 13 | Dolney Lake | A | 272 | 27/net in gill nets | 7% | 37" | 2.9 lb | 2017 |
| 14 | Lower Mission Lake | A | 732 | 16.2/net in gill nets | 5% | 38" | 2.2 lb | 2022 |
| 15 | Big Cormorant Lake | A | 3,657 | 7.1/net in gill nets | 8% | 37" | 3.1 lb | 2025 |
| 16 | North Twin Lake | A | 966 | 15.7/net in gill nets | 3% | 38" | 1.9 lb | 2024 |
| 17 | Platte Lake | A | 1,663 | 14.6/net in gill nets | 2% | 39" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 18 | Cut Foot Sioux Lake | A | 2,771 | 8.2/net in gill nets | 3% | 40" | 2 lb | 2025 |
| 19 | South Twin Lake | A | 1,127 | 34.4/net in gill nets | 2% | 34" | 1.2 lb | 2024 |
| 20 | Crooked Lake | A | 10,360 | 4.9/net in gill nets | 8% | 38" | 3.1 lb | 2025 |
| 21 | Basswood Lake | A | 25,953 | 3/net in gill nets | 14% | 39" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 22 | Winnibigoshish Lake | A | 56,471 | 2.4/net in gill nets | 3% | 36" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 23 | Island Lake | A | 3,108 | 6.8/net in gill nets | 25% | 37" | 4.4 lb | 2024 |
| 24 | Ocheda Lake | A | 1,691 | 14/net in gill nets | 6% | 36" | 3 lb | 2009 |
| 25 | Sand Lake | A | 779 | 19.3/net in gill nets | 3% | 36" | 3 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked statewide: Walleye · Muskellunge · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
Northern pike by county: Aitkin · Anoka · Becker · Beltrami · Big Stone · Blue Earth · Carlton · Carver · Cass · Chisago · Clay · Clearwater · Cook · Crow Wing · Douglas · Freeborn · Grant · Hennepin · Hubbard · Isanti · Itasca · Jackson · Kanabec · Kandiyohi · Lake · Le Sueur · Lincoln · Lyon · Mahnomen · Martin · McLeod · Meeker · Morrison · Murray · Otter Tail · Pine · Polk · Pope · Ramsey · Rice · Scott · Sherburne · St. Louis · Stearns · Todd · Wadena · Washington · Wright
Northern pike near a city: Minneapolis · St. Paul · Duluth · St. Cloud · Brainerd · Bemidji · Mankato · Grand Rapids · Alexandria · Willmar
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.