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Best northern pike lakes in Nebraska

18 Nebraska waters hold northern pike, 18 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. Pelican Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
2. Lake Wanahoo — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
3. Box Butte Reservoir — 39 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie
4. Crescent Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Saugeye, Northern Pike
5. Oliver Reservoir — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish
6. Flanagan Lake — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
7. Blue Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Saugeye
8. Smith Lake — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
9. Goose Lake — 6 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
10. West Long Lake — 6 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch
11. Maskenthine Reservoir — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie
12. Shell Lake — 9 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
13. Standing Bear Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
14. Cottonmill Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie
15. Grove Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
16. Hershey Lake — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
17. Hayes Center — 9 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Northern Pike, Crappie
18. Cottonwood Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill

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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.

Also in Nebraska: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best saugeye lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best white perch lakes · best brown bullhead lakes

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