MN · ranked by public data
28 Cook County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence for northern pike; 28 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria, out of 756 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Ranked within standard summer august mn class 12 standard gill nets normal 2 to 6 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Cook County, MN
83.8 within-system score · 1,809.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 4.17 fish/net set · 1988 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
81.9 within-system score · 658.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 5 fish/net set · 2025 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
65.1 within-system score · 1,002.3 lake-scale opportunity index · 2.22 fish/net set · 2012 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
51.9 within-system score · 583.9 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.43 fish/net set · 2021 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
43.2 within-system score · 340.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.67 fish/net set · 2018 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
27.5 within-system score · 174.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.17 fish/net set · 2018 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
0.8 within-system score · 83.5 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.33 fish/net set · 1991 DNR survey
Ranked within standard summer july mn class 6 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 3 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
Cook County, MN
100.0 within-system score · 1,441.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 2 fish/net set · 2022 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
41.9 within-system score · 223.3 lake-scale opportunity index · 1.33 fish/net set · 1985 DNR survey
Cook County, MN
30.8 within-system score · 249.3 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.33 fish/net set · 2014 DNR survey
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | System score | Primary score signal | Survey measurement | Metric year | Fishing report | DNR status | Northern Pike stocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Iron Lake | Cook | 122 | 24.5 | index 122.3 | 1 fish/net set | 1987 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 5 | Aspen Lake | Cook | 141 | 13.0 | index 70.6 | 0.5 fish/net set | 2020 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 6 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 3 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Caribou Lake | Cook | 721 | 98.2 | index 1,282.7 | 1.78 fish/net set | 2011 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Gull Lake | Cook | 168 | 33.6 | index 167.9 | 1 fish/net set | 2017 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 3 | Crescent Lake | Cook | 755 | 16.9 | index 249.3 | 0.33 fish/net set | 1985 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 4 | Iron Lake | Cook | 122 | 16.2 | index 122.3 | 1 fish/net set | 1984 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 12 standard gill nets normal 2 to 6 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Elbow Lake | Cook | 408 | 90.3 | index 1,633.3 | 4 fish/net set | 1991 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Finger Lake | Cook | 204 | 68.1 | index 509.6 | 2.5 fish/net set | 2023 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 3 | Homer Lake | Cook | 434 | 51.0 | index 434 | 1 fish/net set | 2022 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 4 | Bouder Lake | Cook | 129 | 0.0 | index 42.5 | 0.33 fish/net set | 1990 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 1 standard gill nets normal 0 3 to 1 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Devil Track Lake | Cook | 1,876 | 75.2 | index 1,745 | 0.93 fish/net set | 2024 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Brule Lake | Cook | 4,327 | 71.2 | index 2,509.5 | 0.58 fish/net set | 1983 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 3 | Gunflint Lake | Cook | 4,009 | 2.0 | index 1,122.6 | 0.28 fish/net set | 1991 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 17 standard gill nets normal 3 to 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Bower Trout Lake | Cook | 133 | 95.0 | index 1,685.9 | 12.67 fish/net set | 2024 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Christine Lake | Cook | 184 | 48.4 | index 1,162.8 | 6.33 fish/net set | 2025 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 3 | Holly Lake | Cook | 76 | 0.9 | index 493.6 | 6.5 fish/net set | 2023 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 3 standard gill nets normal 0 6 to 2 4 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Hungry Jack Lake | Cook | 474 | 100.0 | index 683 | 1.44 fish/net set | 2016 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | East Bearskin Lake | Cook | 593 | 59.7 | index 445 | 0.75 fish/net set | 1991 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 3 | Flour Lake | Cook | 330 | 0.0 | index 72.6 | 0.22 fish/net set | 1991 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 16 standard gill nets normal 2 to 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Lake Clara | Cook | 388 | 90.0 | index 1,484.7 | 3.83 fish/net set | 2007 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Fourmile Lake | Cook | 593 | 10.0 | index 593 | 1 fish/net set | 2021 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 17 standard gill nets normal 3 to 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Christine Lake | Cook | 184 | 65.0 | index 1,653.3 | 9 fish/net set | 1995 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Holly Lake | Cook | 76 | 35.0 | index 759.4 | 10 fish/net set | 1986 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer august mn class 3 standard gill nets normal 0 6 to 2 4 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | East Bearskin Lake | Cook | 593 | 100.0 | index 344.1 | 0.58 fish/net set | 1981 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Flour Lake | Cook | 330 | 10.0 | index 56.1 | 0.17 fish/net set | 1981 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Ranked within standard summer july mn class 1 standard gill nets normal 0 3 to 1 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 | ||||||||||
| 1 | Devil Track Lake | Cook | 1,876 | 100.0 | index 788.1 | 0.42 fish/net set | 1993 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| 2 | Gunflint Lake | Cook | 4,009 | 0.0 | index 681.6 | 0.17 fish/net set | 1988 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer august mn class 13 standard gill nets normal 2 to 8 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Ball Club Lake | Cook | 206 | — | — | 2.33 fish/net set | 1995 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 13 standard gill nets normal 2 to 8 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Ball Club Lake | Cook | 206 | — | — | 0.17 fish/net set | 2004 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 15 standard gill nets normal 2 8 to 8 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Little Iron Lake | Cook | 115 | — | — | 4 fish/net set | 2023 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer july mn class 16 standard gill nets normal 2 to 6 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Lake Clara | Cook | 388 | — | — | 3.83 fish/net set | 2019 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 15 standard gill nets normal 2 8 to 8 5 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Little Iron Lake | Cook | 115 | — | — | 5 fish/net set | 2012 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 3 standard gill nets normal 0 6 to 2 4 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Hungry Jack Lake | Cook | 474 | — | — | 1.22 fish/net set | 2020 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Comparable standard summer june mn class 6 standard gill nets normal 1 2 to 3 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank | ||||||||||
| — | Iron Lake | Cook | 122 | — | — | 3.5 fish/net set | 2023 | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical | ||||||||||
| — | Bearskin Lake | Cook | 509 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | No record | — |
| — | Greenwood Lake | Cook | 2,043 | — | — | — | — | 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
24 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 Cook County.
28 Cook 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.