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Best northern pike lakes in North Dakota

145 North Dakota waters list northern pike (official records or labelled estimates), 139 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 Sakakawea — 220 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
2. Devils Lake — 55 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, White Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 12 public access sites
3. Lake Darling — 24 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
4. Lake Ashtabula — 42 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
5. Stump Lake — 75 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, White Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
6. Jamestown Reservoir — 30 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
7. Dry Lake — 24 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
8. Alkaline Lake — 23 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Horsehead Lake — 21 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Missouri River — 31 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites
11. Red River of the North — 8 ft max · Walleye, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Freshwater DrumWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
12. Heart Butte Reservoir (Lake Tschida) — 48 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites
13. Lake Audubon — 59.4 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
14. Mount Carmel Dam — 18 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Yellow PerchWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
15. Sheyenne River — 6 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Channel CatfishWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
16. Bowman-Haley Dam — 28 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
17. Twin Lakes — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Powers Lake — 9 ft max · real survey depth contours · Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
19. Alkali Lake — 23 ft max · real survey depth contours · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Reule Lake — 24 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Pipestem Reservoir — 26 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Yellow PerchWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Lake Metigoshe — 23 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
23. Goose Lake — 20 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Buffalo Lodge Lake — 12 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. West Lake Napoleon — 11 ft max · real survey depth contours · Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 120 more North Dakota waters holding northern pike.

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When to fish northern pike in North Dakota

• 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 North Dakota: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best goldeye lakes

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