Best northern pike lakes in Maine
9 Maine waters hold northern pike, 9 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.
- Sebago Lake — 314 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Lake TroutWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- Cobbosseecontee Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern PikeWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- Messalonskee Lake — 113 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Pushaw Lake — 29 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, White PerchWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Great Pond — 92 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Upper Pleasant Pond — 26 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Sabattus Pond — 19 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Annabessacook Lake — 49 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Seven Tree Pond — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See Maine waters with public access data
When to fish northern pike in Maine
- 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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