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Best northern pike lakes in Nebraska

23 Nebraska waters list northern pike (official records or labelled estimates), 23 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. Lake McConaughy — 110 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 16 public access sites
2. Calamus Reservoir — 60 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Walleye, White Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
3. Harlan County Lake — 40 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
4. Sherman Reservoir — 63 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Walleye, White Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
5. Pelican Lake — 10 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
6. Lake Wanahoo — 24 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
7. Box Butte Reservoir — 39 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Crescent Lake — 16 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Saugeye, Northern PikeWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Lake Minatare — 48 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
10. Flanagan Lake — 33 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Blue Lake — 20 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugeyeWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
12. Smith Lake — 14 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Goose Lake — 6 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. West Long Lake — 6 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Standing Bear Lake — 20 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Maskenthine Reservoir — 18 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Shell Lake — 9 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Cottonmill Lake — 20 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Grove Lake — 22 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
20. Hershey Lake — 21 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Hayes Center — 9 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Cottonwood Lake — 10 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. Oliver Reservoir — 21 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

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When to fish northern pike in Nebraska

• 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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