Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best northern pike lakes in Rice County
17 surveyed northern pike lakes sit in Rice 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.
Union Lake leads at grade B+, with 28 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2015 survey and a 26-inch fish the biggest measured. Fox Lake is next at B, 17 northern pike per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 0% of the northern pike netted over 30 inches. Cedar Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 39-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.