Northern Pike Fishing Guide

Game FishDocumented in 2,487 graded lakes across 3 states

A toothy, aggressive ambush predator that strikes hard and grows long. Pike are the wolf of northern lakes.

Northern Pike is a primary the 49 states and 2 Canadian provinces LakeQuality covers sport-fishing target. 2,487 lakes have an official record of the species — the actual population almost certainly extends further, since not every lake gets a full DNR fishery survey every year. With 1,466 lakes in Minnesota, 926 in Wisconsin, and 95 in Michigan carrying a documented record, Northern Pike is one of the more accessible targets in the dataset.

Game-fish presence on a the 49 states and 2 Canadian provinces LakeQuality covers lake also signals enough water-quality stability to support the prey species the game fish depend on — perch, alewife, ciscoes — which themselves require reasonably oxygenated, clear water. On our A–F scale, the cleanest Northern Pike lakes tend to also be the highest-graded — the same water-clarity and nutrient conditions that support the species also produce the higher grades.

Where they live

Weed lines, bays, and cabbage flats in cool water; big pike hold near deeper weed edges and drop-offs.

Water quality they need

Pike tolerate a wide range but need cool, oxygenated water and healthy vegetation. Clearer lakes with strong weed growth (A–C) hold the best numbers and the biggest fish.

When to catch them

Aggressive right after ice-out and again in fall; active all summer around deep weed edges in cooler water.

Northern Pike Seasonal Forecast & Techniques

Part of the LakeQuality Fishing Forecast. Spawn trigger: One of the earliest spawners — flooded marshy shallows right after ice-out at 40–52°F. Forage: Whatever fits: perch, ciscoes, suckers, panfish. For a forecast tuned to a specific lake's measured clarity and depth, open that lake's forecast.

Season	Where they hold	Structure & cover	Technique
Spring	shallow 2–8 ft	weedy bays, marsh mouths, warming flats	spoons, spinnerbaits, big soft plastics
Summer	weed edges 6–18 ft; big pike deeper/cooler	cabbage/coontail edges, deep weedlines, cool water	large spoons, jerkbaits, dead-bait for big fish
Fall	variable 6–25 ft	deep weed edges, drop-offs, cisco/tullibee lakes	big swimbaits, sucker/dead-bait rigs — trophy season
Winter / Ice	6–20 ft	weed edges and flats	tip-ups with large shiners/suckers

Clear-water tactics:jerkbaits & bucktailsnatural perch/cisco colorsStained-water tactics:bladed & rattling baitsbright chartreuse/orange, big profile

2,487

Total Lakes

Avg. Grade

40 ft

Avg. Depth

Water Quality of Northern Pike Lakes

541

22%

453

18%

320

13%

239

10%

137

Best Northern Pike Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with northern pike ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Lobster Lake	Douglas	MN	A	65 ft	18
2	East Fox Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	65 ft	15
3	Deep Portage Lake	Cass	MN	A	105 ft	9
4	Clearwater Lake	Wright	MN	A	73 ft	17
5	Clearwater Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	54 ft	16
6	Clearwater Lake	Clearwater	MN	A	65 ft	14
7	Lower Hay Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	100 ft	21
8	Latoka Lake	Douglas	MN	A	108 ft	16
9	Little Birch Lake	Todd	MN	A	89 ft	20
10	North Long Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	97 ft	18
11	Bad Medicine Lake	Becker	MN	A	84 ft	13
12	Mud Lake	Becker	MN	A	34 ft	16
13	Big Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	35 ft	17
14	Big Lake	Carlton	MN	A	25 ft	9
15	Big Lake	Sherburne	MN	A	48 ft	14
16	Big Lake	St. Louis	MN	A	22 ft	8
17	Big Sugar Bush Lake	Becker	MN	A	42 ft	13
18	Pelican Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	55 ft	20
19	Pelican Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	104 ft	17
20	Birch Lake	Wright	MN	A	52 ft	9
21	Birch Lake	Cass	MN	A	45 ft	14
22	Round Lake	Aitkin	MN	A	125 ft	18
23	Round Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	51 ft	20
24	Round Lake	Cook	MN	A	45 ft	5
25	Round Lake	Becker	MN	A	69 ft	18
26	Ada Lake	Cass	MN	A	60 ft	16
27	Pike Lake	Cook	MN	A	45 ft	7
28	Whitefish Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	138 ft	23
29	Whitefish Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	30 ft	12
30	Horseshoe Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	56 ft	11
31	Farm Lake	Lake	MN	A	56 ft	12
32	Washburn Lake	Cass	MN	A	111 ft	21
33	Long Lake	Stearns	MN	A	28 ft	5
34	Long Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	A	46 ft	15
35	Long Lake	Clearwater	MN	A	80 ft	15
36	Long Lake	Cass	MN	A	115 ft	14
37	Long Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	87 ft	11
38	Long Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	128 ft	16
39	Long Lake	Becker	MN	A	61 ft	16
40	Long Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	135 ft	14
41	Long Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	73 ft	17
42	Long Lake	Itasca	MN	A	72 ft	10
43	Long Lake	Itasca	MN	A	85 ft	12
44	Dead Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	34 ft	9
45	Dead Lake	Otter Tail	MN	A	65 ft	18
46	Unnamed Lake	Sherburne	MN	A	43 ft	7
47	Maple Lake	Douglas	MN	A	78 ft	17
48	Maple Lake	Itasca	MN	A	39 ft	13
49	West Twin Lake	Crow Wing	MN	A	42 ft	12
50	Shallow Lake	Itasca	MN	A	85 ft	12

Showing top 50 of 2,487 lakes with northern pike.

Frequently Asked Questions

What water quality do northern pike need?

Pike tolerate a wide range but need cool, oxygenated water and healthy vegetation. Clearer lakes with strong weed growth (A–C) hold the best numbers and the biggest fish.

How many lakes have northern pike?

Northern Pike are found in 2,487 graded lakes: 1,466 in Minnesota, 926 in Wisconsin, 95 in Michigan. The average water quality grade of lakes with northern pike is B (Good).

What are the best lakes for northern pike?

The best northern pike lakes by water quality are Lobster Lake, East Fox Lake, Deep Portage Lake, Clearwater Lake, Clearwater Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where northern pike have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with northern pike?

Northern Pike are most commonly found alongside northern pike, yellow perch, bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Northern Pike Lakes

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 1,371 lakes · 1,631 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 1,349 lakes · 1,601 total

Black Crappie Lakes

Found together in 1,301 lakes · 1,428 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 1,247 lakes · 2,593 total

Walleye Lakes

Found together in 1,193 lakes · 1,982 total

Pumpkinseed Lakes

Found together in 1,192 lakes · 1,370 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.