Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Rice County
The DNR has surveyed northern pike in 17 lakes in Rice County. The 10 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Union Lake is first at B+. The DNR caught 28 northern pike per gill net in the 2015 survey, and the biggest was 26 inches. Fox Lake is second at B, with 17 northern pike per gill net in the 2023 survey, and none of its northern pike measured over 30 inches. Cedar Lake is third at B, and its biggest northern pike was 39 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 30" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union Lake | B+ | 397 | 28/net in gill nets | 0% | 26" | 1.7 lb | 2015 |
| 2 | Fox Lake | B | 312 | 17/net in gill nets | 0% | 29" | 2.5 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Cedar Lake | B | 902 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 12% | 39" | 3.6 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Shields Lake | B | 941 | 2.6/net in gill nets | 26% | 39" | 4.5 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Mazaska Lake | B− | 688 | 3.4/net in gill nets | 7% | 36" | 3.3 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Roberds Lake | C+ | 632 | 4/net in gill nets | 5% | 32" | 3 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Caron Lake | C+ | 319 | — | 0% | 18" | 0.5 lb | 2017 |
| 8 | Hunt Lake | C | 176 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 17% | 35" | 4 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Cannon Lake | C | 1,593 | 0.7/net in gill nets | 47% | 38" | 5.8 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Kelly & Dudley Lake | C− | 128 | 7.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 29" | 1.8 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked in Rice 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.