Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Pine County
49 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Pine County; the 9 ranked here 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.
Oak Lake leads at grade B+, with 8.8 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey and a 36-inch fish the biggest measured. Sturgeon Lake is next at B+, 9.2 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 0% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Sand Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 29-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Lake | B+ | 459 | 8.8/net in gill nets | 11% | 36" | 3.1 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Sturgeon Lake | B+ | 1,706 | 9.2/net in gill nets | 0% | 28" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Sand Lake | B | 527 | 11.9/net in gill nets | 0% | 29" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Fish Lake | B | 185 | 7.7/net in gill nets | 14% | 36" | 4.3 lb | 2010 |
| 5 | Dago Lake | B− | 118 | 11/net in gill nets | 6% | 31" | 2 lb | 2006 |
| 6 | Pokegama Lake | B− | 1,522 | 2/net in gill nets | 17% | 36" | 4 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Cross Lake | C | 925 | 3.1/net in gill nets | 3% | 33" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Island Lake | C | 527 | 4/net in gill nets | 2% | 31" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Upper Pine Lake | C | 233 | 5.3/net in gill nets | 4% | 31" | 2.5 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Pine County: Walleye · 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.