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Best northern pike lakes in Ontario

4032 Ontario waters hold northern pike, 2011 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. Lake Erie — Eastern Basin — 205 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
2. Lac Seul — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
3. Lake of the Woods — 36 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Lake St. Joseph — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
5. Lake St. Joseph — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Lake Abitibi — 49 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Sauger, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
7. Sandy Lake — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Sauger, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
8. Long Lake — 400 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
9. Lake Abitibi — 49 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Sauger, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Georgian Bay — Manitoulin & Killarney Shore — 353 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
11. Lake Nipissing — 230 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
12. Lake Nipissing — 230 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
13. Eagle Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, MuskellungeWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 14 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
14. Lake Simcoe — 135 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 90 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
15. Lake St. Clair — 27 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
16. Sturgeon Lake — 260 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Sauger, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 10 public access sites
17. Georgian Bay — Bruce Peninsula & Tobermory — 567 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
18. Georgian Bay — Nottawasaga Bay — 314 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
19. Lake Temagami — 240 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
20. Georgian Bay — Parry Sound — 350 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites
21. Georgian Bay — Owen Sound & Colpoys Bay — 405 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
22. Deer Lake — 217 ft max · survey depth data · Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake TroutWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Georgian Bay — French River & Key Harbour — 155 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
24. Lake Timiskaming — 70 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Northern PikeWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
25. Red Lake — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Northern PikeWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites

…plus 4007 more Ontario waters holding northern pike.

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When to fish northern pike in Ontario

• 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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