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Best northern pike lakes in Indiana

35 Indiana waters hold northern pike, 31 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, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
2. Crooked Lake (Steuben) — 81 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
3. Lake Tippecanoe — 123 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
4. Sylvan Lake — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
5. Hamilton Lake — 69 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Winona Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Webster Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
8. Lake Manitou — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Lake Maxinkuckee — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. The Backwaters — 6 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Oliver Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Lake James — 86 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
13. Westler Lake — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Lake of the Woods — 84 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
15. Hoffman Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
16. Long Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Barton Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Myers Lake — 57 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
19. Little Chapman Lake — 29 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Riddles Lake — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
21. Messick Lake — 56 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Lukens Lake — 39 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Little Pike Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, White Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Big Chapman Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. McClish Lake — 58 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 10 more Indiana waters holding northern pike.

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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.

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