Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Polk County
16 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Polk County; the 10 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.
Maple Lake leads at grade A+, with 21.7 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 36-inch fish the biggest measured. Sand Hill Lake is next at A, 37.5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2018 survey, 1% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Union Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 34-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maple Lake | A+ | 1,641 | 21.7/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 2.5 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Sand Hill Lake | A | 479 | 37.5/net in gill nets | 1% | 32" | 2.2 lb | 2018 |
| 3 | Union Lake | A− | 888 | 11.9/net in gill nets | 2% | 34" | 2.4 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Sarah Lake | A− | 366 | 16.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 36" | 1.7 lb | 2021 |
| 5 | Crystal Lake | B | 118 | 19/net in gill nets | 0% | 28" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Spring Lake | B | 134 | 10.8/net in gill nets | 7% | 36" | 3.3 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Badger Lake | B | 256 | 12/net in gill nets | 0% | 29" | 1.6 lb | 2016 |
| 8 | Hill River Lake | B | 102 | 12.5/net in gill nets | 7% | 34" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Cross Lake | B | 320 | 7/net in gill nets | 18% | 40" | 4.1 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Whitefish Lake | C− | 243 | 5.7/net in gill nets | 0% | 27" | 2.3 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Polk 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.