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.
- Pelican Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- Lake Wanahoo — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Box Butte Reservoir — 39 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Crescent Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Saugeye, Northern PikeWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Flanagan Lake — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Blue Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugeyeWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Smith Lake — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Goose Lake — 6 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- West Long Lake — 6 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Standing Bear Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Maskenthine Reservoir — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Shell Lake — 9 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Cottonmill Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Grove Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- Hershey Lake — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Hayes Center — 9 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
- Cottonwood Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Oliver Reservoir — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #18: 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 Nebraska waters with public access data
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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