Minnesota › Best lakes › Northern Pike › Martin County MN · ranked by public data
Best Northern Pike Lakes by DNR Survey System and Lake-Scale Opportunity in Martin County, Minnesota 14 Martin County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence for northern pike; 14 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria, out of 50 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Ranked within standard summer july mn class 43 standard gill nets normal 1 1 to 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
1 98.1 system score
707 acres Martin County, MN
Cedar Lake available
98.1 within-system score · 6,595.1 lake-scale opportunity index · 9.33 fish/net set · 2010 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 98.1/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 6,595.1 (9.33 fish/net set × 707 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 9.33 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 2010 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer july Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 2 73.0 system score
186 acres Martin County, MN
Lake Imogene limited
73.0 within-system score · 1,392.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 7.5 fish/net set · 2015 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 73.0/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 1,392.2 (7.5 fish/net set × 186 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 7.5 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 2015 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer july Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 3 40.5 system score
639 acres Martin County, MN
Bright Lake available
40.5 within-system score · 1,277.1 lake-scale opportunity index · 2 fish/net set · 1989 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 40.5/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 1,277.1 (2 fish/net set × 639 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 2 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 1989 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer july Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 4 19.8 system score
156 acres Martin County, MN
Fish Lake limited
19.8 within-system score · 155.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 1 fish/net set · 2015 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 19.8/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 155.6 (1 fish/net set × 156 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 1 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 2015 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer july Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 5 14.5 system score
481 acres Martin County, MN
East Chain Lake limited
14.5 within-system score · 240.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.5 fish/net set · 1992 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 14.5/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 240.4 (0.5 fish/net set × 481 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 0.5 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 1992 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer july Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 6 2.3 system score
267 acres Martin County, MN
Clear Lake available
2.3 within-system score · 88.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.33 fish/net set · 1995 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 2.3/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 88.2 (0.33 fish/net set × 267 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 0.33 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 1995 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer july Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset Ranked within standard summer june mn class 43 standard gill nets normal 1 1 to 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1
1 100.0 system score
707 acres Martin County, MN
Cedar Lake available
100.0 within-system score · 4,948.1 lake-scale opportunity index · 7 fish/net set · 2022 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 100.0/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 4,948.1 (7 fish/net set × 707 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 7 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 2022 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer june Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 2 84.2 system score
639 acres Martin County, MN
Bright Lake available
84.2 within-system score · 4,086.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 6.4 fish/net set · 1994 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 84.2/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 4,086.7 (6.4 fish/net set × 639 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 6.4 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 1994 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer june Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 3 10.4 system score
461 acres Martin County, MN
Big Twin Lake available
10.4 within-system score · 152 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.33 fish/net set · 2004 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 10.4/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 152 (0.33 fish/net set × 461 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 0.33 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 2004 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer june Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 4 6.2 system score
186 acres Martin County, MN
Lake Imogene limited
6.2 within-system score · 92.8 lake-scale opportunity index · 0.5 fish/net set · 2009 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 6.2/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 92.8 (0.5 fish/net set × 186 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 0.5 fish/net set Survey recency (10%): 2009 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard gill nets, lake class 43, standard summer june Minnesota DNR lake class 43 normal range 1.1-8 fish/net set DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (northern pike) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset Rank Lake County Acres System score Primary score signal Survey measurement Metric year DNR status Northern Pike stocking Ranked within standard summer august mn class 24 standard gill nets normal 1 5 to 7 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 1 Amber Lake Martin 182 90.0 index 254.9 1.4 fish/net set 1993 No record — 2 Hall Lake Martin 548 49.5 index 180.9 0.33 fish/net set 2022 No record — 3 Budd Lake Martin 228 9.3 index 75.2 0.33 fish/net set 2020 No record — Ranked within standard summer july mn class 24 standard gill nets normal 1 5 to 7 3 catch per effort (fish per net set) — ranks restart at 1 1 Hall Lake Martin 548 100.0 index 367.2 0.67 fish/net set 1989 No record — 2 Amber Lake Martin 182 0.0 index 91 0.5 fish/net set 1987 No record — Comparable standard summer august mn class 40 standard gill nets normal 1 5 to 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank — George Lake Martin 83 — — 1 fish/net set 2021 No record — Comparable standard summer august mn class 43 standard gill nets normal 1 1 to 8 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank — Clam Lake Martin 71 — — 2 fish/net set 2023 No record — Comparable standard summer july mn class 40 standard gill nets normal 1 5 to 9 catch per effort (fish per net set) — one lake recorded, no peer rank — George Lake Martin 83 — — 0.5 fish/net set 2025 No record — Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical — Fox Lake Martin 951 — — — — No record — — Iowa Lake Martin 705 — — — — No record —
Methodology
How this list is built 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
Martin County northern pike fishing FAQ Which northern pike lakes receive a numeric county rank? 10 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 Martin County.
How many Martin County lakes have northern pike? 14 Martin 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.