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Best northern pike lakes in Massachusetts

8 Massachusetts waters hold northern pike, 7 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. Quaboag Pond — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie
2. Onota Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
3. Congamond Lakes South Pond — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
4. Lake Cochituate North Basin — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
5. Pontoosuc Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
6. Lake Buel — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
7. Stockbridge Bowl — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie
8. Quaboag River — 6 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie

When to fish northern pike in Massachusetts

• 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 Massachusetts: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best chain pickerel lakes

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