Best northern pike lakes in Vermont
30 Vermont waters hold northern pike, 11 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.
- Lake Champlain — 392 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 15 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Lake Champlain — Inland Sea and Malletts Bay — 143 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 10 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Lake Champlain — South Lake — 29 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Lake Memphremagog — 351 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow PerchWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Moore Reservoir — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites
- Lake Champlain — Missisquoi Bay — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Lake Carmi — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Lake Dunmore — 106 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Lake Bomoseen — 65 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Otter Creek — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Common CarpWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Lake Hortonia — 58 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
- Joe's Pond — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Lake Morey — 42 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Lac Wallace — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
- Norton Pond — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Green River Reservoir — 93 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow PerchWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lake St. Catherine — 65 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- North Hartland Reservoir — 36 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Arrowhead Mountain Lake — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Shelburne Pond — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Glen Lake — 68 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lake Elmore — 17 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Colchester Pond — 42 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Neal Pond — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Woodward Reservoir — 48 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, BluegillWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
…plus 5 more Vermont waters holding northern pike.
Find the closest northern pike waters to you →
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 Vermont waters with public access data
When to fish northern pike in Vermont
- 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 Vermont: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best lake trout lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best landlocked salmon lakes · best chain pickerel lakes · best burbot lakes · best brown bullhead lakes
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