MN · ranked by public data
24 Aitkin County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence for northern pike; 24 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria, out of 248 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Ranked within standard summer august mn class 23 standard gill nets normal 2 2 to 8 7 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Aitkin County, MN
65.0 within-system score · 2,762.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 4.33 fish/net set · 2021 DNR survey
Aitkin County, MN
35.0 within-system score · 1,939.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 11.5 fish/net set · 1977 DNR survey
Ranked within standard summer august mn class 25 standard gill nets normal 3 1 to 8 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Aitkin County, MN
100.0 within-system score · 13,806.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 8 fish/net set · 2024 DNR survey
Aitkin County, MN
0.0 within-system score · 1,191 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.5 fish/net set · 1985 DNR survey
Ranked within standard summer august mn class 27 standard gill nets normal 2 8 to 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Aitkin County, MN
100.0 within-system score · 1,195.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.42 fish/net set · 2019 DNR survey
Aitkin County, MN
0.0 within-system score · 747.1 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.25 fish/net set · 1994 DNR survey
Ranked within standard summer july mn class 22 standard gill nets normal 3 to 7 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Aitkin County, MN
100.0 within-system score · 31,942.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 15.93 fish/net set · 2023 DNR survey
Aitkin County, MN
0.0 within-system score · 25,785.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 4.21 fish/net set · 2022 DNR survey
Ranked within standard summer july mn class 27 standard gill nets normal 2 8 to 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Aitkin County, MN
55.0 within-system score · 3,646 lake-scale opportunity index · 4.33 fish/net set · 1992 DNR survey
Aitkin County, MN
45.0 within-system score · 2,988.3 lake-scale opportunity index · 5 fish/net set · 2022 DNR survey
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | System score | Primary score signal | Survey measurement | Metric year | Fishing report | DNR status | Northern Pike stocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 29 standard gill nets normal 4 8 to 12 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Clear Lake | Aitkin | 574 | 100.0 | index 6,308.5 | 11 fish/net set | 2024 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Hay Lake | Aitkin | 129 | 0.0 | index 998.8 | 7.75 fish/net set | 2013 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 31 standard gill nets normal 3 5 to 10 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Hanging Kettle Lake | Aitkin | 318 | 100.0 | index 3,443.6 | 10.83 fish/net set | 2019 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | French Lake | Aitkin | 149 | 0.0 | index 1,070.2 | 7.17 fish/net set | 1981 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer june mn class 23 standard gill nets normal 2 2 to 8 7 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Lone Lake | Aitkin | 433 | 100.0 | index 5,730.7 | 13.22 fish/net set | 2024 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Ball Bluff Lake | Aitkin | 169 | 0.0 | index 674.6 | 4 fish/net set | 2021 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer june mn class 29 standard gill nets normal 4 8 to 12 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Hickory Lake | Aitkin | 212 | 90.0 | index 3,031.9 | 14.33 fish/net set | 2023 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Hay Lake | Aitkin | 129 | 10.0 | index 1,031 | 8 fish/net set | 2024 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer june mn class 31 standard gill nets normal 3 5 to 10 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Hanging Kettle Lake | Aitkin | 318 | 100.0 | index 3,551.7 | 11.17 fish/net set | 2023 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Little Pine Lake | Aitkin | 226 | 10.0 | index 2,301.5 | 10.17 fish/net set | 2023 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 20 standard gill nets normal 2 to 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Blue Lake | Aitkin | 54 | — | — | 2 fish/net set | 1987 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 22 standard gill nets normal 3 to 7 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Farm Island Lake | Aitkin | 2,005 | — | — | 4.53 fish/net set | 2025 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 31 standard gill nets normal 3 5 to 10 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | French Lake | Aitkin | 149 | — | — | 2 fish/net set | 2004 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 32 standard gill nets normal 3 5 to 8 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Hammal Lake | Aitkin | 376 | — | — | 4.17 fish/net set | 2022 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 39 standard gill nets normal 4 6 to 11 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Fleming Lake | Aitkin | 319 | — | — | 1.5 fish/net set | 2017 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 41 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 7 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Lake Minnewawa | Aitkin | 2,351 | — | — | 4.67 fish/net set | 1982 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 23 standard gill nets normal 2 2 to 8 7 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Ball Bluff Lake | Aitkin | 169 | — | — | 6 fish/net set | 1993 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 25 standard gill nets normal 3 1 to 8 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Hill Lake | Aitkin | 794 | — | — | 8.83 fish/net set | 2025 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 32 standard gill nets normal 3 5 to 8 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Hanson Lake | Aitkin | 143 | — | — | 5.83 fish/net set | 2006 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 39 standard gill nets normal 4 6 to 11 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Fleming Lake | Aitkin | 319 | — | — | 4 fish/net set | 2003 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 41 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 7 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Lake Minnewawa | Aitkin | 2,351 | — | — | 10.53 fish/net set | 2024 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 27 standard gill nets normal 2 8 to 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Dam Lake | Aitkin | 598 | — | — | 3.25 fish/net set | 1990 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 32 standard gill nets normal 3 5 to 8 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Hanson Lake | Aitkin | 143 | — | — | 5.67 fish/net set | 2016 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 39 standard gill nets normal 4 6 to 11 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Blind Lake | Aitkin | 304 | — | — | 10.33 fish/net set | 2018 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical | ||||||||||
| — | Blackface Lake | Aitkin | 192 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Elm Island Lake | Aitkin | 520 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Gun Lake | Aitkin | 712 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
Methodology
County ranks use the same statewide exact-family contract; systems with at least two eligible county peers restart at #1. The score is 55% survey rate × acreage, 35% survey rate, and 10% recency. Catch-per-effort × acreage is only an opportunity index, never a literal fish count. Documented acreage plus verified public or shore access are eligibility gates. Unsupported methods stay documented but unranked. See the complete definitions on the statewide northern pike ranking.
FAQ
15 lakes receive at least one peer-backed, exact-lake numeric rank. Catch-per-effort systems separate species, phase, gear, unit, and sampled population; standardized adult-density estimates form their own system, so systems with at least two eligible county peers can each have a #1 in Aitkin County.
24 Aitkin County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.
Source data: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder fisheries surveys, lake classes, morphology, and public-access records. Rankings are LakeList's computed opinion from public agency data, not a DNR endorsement. Conditions and regulations change — verify access and rules before you go.