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Best northern pike lakes in Alaska

11 Alaska waters hold northern pike, 3 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Aggressive ambush predator that patrols weed edges and cool water.

1. Iliamna Lake — 988 ft max · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Lake Trout
2. Becharof Lake — 594 ft max · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Lake Trout
3. Chelatna Lake — 410 ft max · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon
4. Big Lake — 89 ft max · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Burbot, Arctic Char
5. Shell Lake — 94 ft max · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Arctic Grayling
6. Red Shirt Lake — 50 ft max · Northern Pike
7. Nancy Lake — 65 ft max · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout
8. Hewitt Lake — 112 ft max · Northern Pike
9. Sand Lake — 39 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon
10. Lower Fire Lake — 71 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Arctic Grayling
11. Skeeter Lake — 17 ft max · survey depth data · Northern Pike

When to fish northern pike in Alaska

• Spring 2–8 ft — Shallow, dark-bottomed bays that warm first; pike spawn in flooded vegetation.
• Summer 8–20 ft — Deep weedlines and cool water; the biggest fish slide deeper than most anglers fish.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Trophy time: big baits near the last green weeds and steep breaks.
• Winter 5–15 ft — Weedy flats near drop-offs; pike remain active all winter.

Also in Alaska: best rainbow trout lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best coho salmon lakes · best lake trout lakes · best lake whitefish lakes · best burbot lakes · best arctic grayling lakes · best arctic char lakes

Northern Pike elsewhere: Ontario · Minnesota · Québec · Michigan · New Hampshire · Montana · Massachusetts · North Dakota · Iowa · Indiana · South Dakota · New York · Wisconsin · Illinois · Maine · Manitoba · Alberta · Vermont · New Jersey