Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Otter Tail County
145 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Otter Tail County; 79 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.
Little Pine Lake leads at grade A, with 9.3 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 37-inch fish the biggest measured. Marion Lake is next at A−, 8.5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 5% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. North Turtle Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 30-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Pine Lake | A | 2,080 | 9.3/net in gill nets | 4% | 37" | 2.7 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Marion Lake | A− | 1,624 | 8.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 34" | 2.6 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | North Turtle Lake | A− | 1,773 | 13.2/net in gill nets | 1% | 30" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Otter Tail Lake | A− | 14,079 | 2.3/net in gill nets | 11% | 34" | 3.4 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | West Battle Lake | A− | 5,615 | 5.6/net in gill nets | 2% | 31" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Star Lake | A− | 4,486 | 8.9/net in gill nets | 0% | 33" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Long Lake | A− | 1,289 | 6.4/net in gill nets | 7% | 37" | 2.6 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Pelican Lake | A− | 3,962 | 3.9/net in gill nets | 17% | 34" | 3.4 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Spitzer Lake | A− | 731 | 11.8/net in gill nets | 3% | 34" | 2.1 lb | 2018 |
| 10 | Dead Lake | A− | 7,546 | 5.1/net in gill nets | 2% | 31" | 1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Otter Tail County: 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.