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Best northern pike lakes in Wisconsin

2353 Wisconsin waters hold northern pike, 117 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 Michigan — Green Bay North and Bays de Noc — 129 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, MuskellungeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 12 public access sites
2. Lake Michigan — Green Bay South — 128 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Channel CatfishWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 19 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Lake Michigan — Door County — 424 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Chinook SalmonWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
4. Lake Superior — Apostle Islands and Chequamegon Bay — 613 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Coho SalmonWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 21 public access sites, 4 carry-in or shore-oriented
5. Lake Winnebago — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 23 public access sites, 2 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Lake Pepin — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern PikeWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 5 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
7. Castle Rock Lake — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites
8. Lac Vieux Desert Lake — 38 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Beaver Dam Lake — 7 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
10. Lake Du Bay — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
11. Long Lake — 74 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
12. Buffalo Lake — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
13. Lake Onalaska — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites
14. Rhinelander Flowage — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
15. Holcombe Flowage — 62 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
16. Sinissippi Lake (Hustisford) — 8 ft max · Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
17. Lake Owen — 95 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
18. Prairie Lake — 16 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
19. Tainter Lake — 37 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
20. Dairyland Reservoir (Flambeau) — 70 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
21. Mississippi River Pool 8 (La Crosse) — 39 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugerWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
22. Lake Chetac — 26 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
23. White Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
24. Biron Flowage — 23 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
25. Nelson Lake (Totagatic Flow) — 33 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites

…plus 2328 more Wisconsin waters holding northern pike.

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When to fish northern pike in Wisconsin

• 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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