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Best northern pike lakes in Indiana

14 Indiana waters hold northern pike, 11 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. Lake Wawasee — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
2. Crooked Lake (Steuben) — 81 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
3. Lake Tippecanoe — 123 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
4. Lake Maxinkuckee — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
5. Sylvan Lake — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie
6. Hamilton Lake — 69 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
7. Winona Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie
8. Webster Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
9. Big Chapman Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
10. Dewart Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
11. Oliver Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
12. Lake James — 86 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
13. Lake George (Fremont) — 85 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
14. Snow Lake — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill

When to fish northern pike in Indiana

• 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 Indiana: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best sauger lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best rock bass lakes

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