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Best northern pike lakes in Montana

146 Montana waters list northern pike (official records or labelled estimates), 144 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — 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. Flathead Lake — 380 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
2. Tiber Reservoir — 110 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Sauger, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
3. Canyon Ferry Reservoir — 130 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
4. Hauser Lake — 65 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
5. Swan Lake — 120 ft max · real survey depth contours · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
6. Whitefish Lake — 220 ft max · real survey depth contours · Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Lake Frances — 43 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Lake Sherburne — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, KokaneeWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
9. Seeley Lake — 120 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
10. Pishkun Reservoir — 78 ft max · real survey depth contours · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brook TroutWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Bull Lake (Lincoln) — 60 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Bitterroot River — 6 ft max · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
13. Salmon Lake — 65 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
14. Echo Lake (Flathead) — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Tally Lake — 450 ft max · real survey depth contours · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook TroutWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
16. Lake Helena — 12 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
17. Lake Inez — 72 ft max · real survey depth contours · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown TroutWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Lake Mary Ronan — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
19. Blanchard Lake — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Yellow PerchWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Thompson Lake, Middle — 160 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
21. Peterson Lake — 39 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Castle Rock Reservoir — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Canyon Lake (Carbon) — 80 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
24. Split Rock Lake — 11 ft max · real survey depth contours · Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
25. Anita Reservoir — 24 ft max · real survey depth contours · Northern Pike, Crappie, Yellow PerchWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 121 more Montana waters holding northern pike.

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When to fish northern pike in Montana

• 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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