Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Pope County
19 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Pope County; 15 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.
Lake Minnewaska leads at grade A+, with 13.5 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 36-inch fish the biggest measured. Grove Lake is next at A, 29.8 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 3% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Leven Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 37-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.