Northern Pike Fishing in Minnesota
Aggressive predators found in nearly every Minnesota lake. Pike regulations vary by zone (northeast, north-central, southern) — check before you fish.
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Aggressive predators found in nearly every Minnesota lake. Pike regulations vary by zone (northeast, north-central, southern) — check before you fish.
Size Limit
24 inches (northeast zone), varies by zone
Daily Bag
3 (northeast), 10 (south)
Season
Continuous open season
State Record
45 lb 12 oz
Basswood Lake (1929)
Best Months to Fish
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
What to Use
Live Bait & Natural
Large minnowsSuckersSmelt
Lures & Artificials
SpinnerbaitsSpoonsJerkbaitsTip-ups with minnows
Minnesota Lakes with Northern Pike
2698 lakes in our directory have northern pike — sorted by size.
Lake of the Woods (MN)
Lake of the Woods County
725,582.7 acres
Rainy
St. Louis County
210,200.2 acres
Mille Lacs
Mille Lacs County
128,250.02 acres
Red (Upper Red)
Beltrami County
119,294.35 acres
Leech
Cass County
103,443.8 acres
Winnibigoshish
Cass County
56,471.4 acres
Vermilion
St. Louis County
39,272.25 acres
Lac la Croix
St. Louis County
29,596.66 acres
Basswood
Lake County
25,952.96 acres
Namakan
St. Louis County
24,066.28 acres
Kabetogama
St. Louis County
24,034 acres
Saganaga
NOT IN MN County
18,766.52 acres
Regulation Notes
Three management zones with different size and bag limits. Northeast zone has the most restrictive limits.
More Minnesota Fish Species
Plan Your Northern Pike Trip
Find lakes, guides, and bait shops for your next northern pike fishing trip in Minnesota.
Explore Lakes Find a Guide Bait & TackleRegulations shown are statewide defaults. Some waters have special regulations — always check the current Minnesota DNR regulations before fishing. A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+.