Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Pope County
The DNR has surveyed northern pike in 19 lakes in Pope County. Of those, 15 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 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 Minnewaska is first at A+. The DNR caught 13.5 northern pike per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 36 inches. Grove Lake is second at A, with 29.8 northern pike per gill net in the 2023 survey, and 3% of its northern pike measured over 30 inches. Leven Lake is third at A, and its biggest northern pike was 37 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Minnewaska | A+ | 8,050 | 13.5/net in gill nets | 5% | 36" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Grove Lake | A | 345 | 29.8/net in gill nets | 3% | 37" | 1.7 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Leven Lake | A | 282 | 29/net in gill nets | 2% | 37" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Lake Reno | A− | 3,809 | 4.5/net in gill nets | 7% | 37" | 3.2 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Scandinavian Lake | A− | 417 | 12.4/net in gill nets | 5% | 35" | 2.6 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Lake Emily | A− | 2,316 | 4.2/net in gill nets | 22% | 36" | 4.4 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Lake Johanna | A− | 1,399 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 7% | 31" | 3.6 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Villard Lake | B+ | 544 | 11.2/net in gill nets | 6% | 32" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Westport Lake | B+ | 203 | 17/net in gill nets | 6% | 31" | 2.7 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Pelican Lake | B+ | 518 | 7.7/net in gill nets | 4% | 34" | 3 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked in Pope County: Walleye · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best northern pike lakes in Minnesota
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.