Michigan Lake Depths

Game fish · pike family

Northern pike

Esox lucius · also called pike

Native to MichiganRecorded in 381 Michigan lakes and bays
Illustration of a northern pike in side view
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph and not to scale.
Lives
6–8 years on average; some to 15
Spawns
April or May, in the shallows right after ice-out
Eats
About 90% fish — perch, sunfish, minnows, suckers
Found in
Weedy shallows of inland lakes and the Great Lakes
Michigan record
39 lb, 51.5 in — Dodge Lake, Schoolcraft County, 1961

Where northern pike have been recorded

381 of the 1,288 Michigan lakes on this site with fish records list northern pike, across 74 counties, including 11 Great Lakes bays. Tap a dot to open that lake’s depth map.

Saginaw Bay, Bay CountyWhitefish Bay, Chippewa CountyLake St. Clair, St. Clair CountyGrand Traverse Bay, Grand Traverse CountyBig Bay de Noc, Delta CountyThunder Bay, Alpena CountyKeweenaw Bay, Baraga CountyLittle Bay de Noc, Delta CountyWildfowl Bay, Huron CountyLittle Traverse Bay, Emmet CountyHoughton Lake, Roscommon CountyBurt Lake, Cheboygan CountyLake Charlevoix, Charlevoix CountyMullett Lake, Cheboygan CountyLake Gogebic, Ontonagon CountyManistique Lake, Mackinac CountyBlack Lake, Cheboygan CountyHiggins Lake, Roscommon CountyCrystal Lake, Benzie CountyHubbard Lake, Alcona CountyIndian Lake, Schoolcraft CountyTawas Bay, Iosco CountyElk Lake, Antrim CountyGrand Lake, Presque Isle CountyLake Leelanau, Leelanau CountyLong Lake, Presque Isle CountyGlen Lake, Leelanau CountyHamlin Lake, Mason CountyWalloon Lake, Charlevoix CountyLac Vieux Desert, Gogebic CountyLake Michigamme, Marquette CountyBrevoort Lake, Mackinac CountyMuskegon Lake, Muskegon CountySouth Manistique Lake, Mackinac CountyDouglas Lake, Cheboygan CountyLake Skegemog, Kalkaska CountyGun Lake, Barry CountyPlatte Lake, Benzie CountyLake Mitchell, Wexford CountyCrooked Lake, Emmet CountyDuck Lake, Grand Traverse CountyPortage Lake, Manistee CountyMartiny Lake, Mecosta CountyLake Missaukee, Missaukee CountyGull Lake, Kalamazoo CountyGreen Lake, Grand Traverse CountyOtsego Lake, Otsego CountyBear Lake, Manistee CountyLake Margrethe, Crawford CountyLake Independence, Marquette CountyLake Paradise, Emmet CountyLake Macatawa, Ottawa CountyNorth Manistique Lake, Luce CountyHodenpyl Dam Pond, Wexford CountyColdwater Lake, Branch CountyVan Etten Lake, Iosco CountyLake Gratiot, Keweenaw CountyDevils Lake, Lenawee CountyCass Lake, Oakland CountySanford Lake, Midland CountyLake Cadillac, Wexford CountyWixom Lake, Gladwin CountyAustin Lake, Kalamazoo CountyCedar Lake, Alcona CountyDiamond Lake, Cass CountyMillecoquins Lake, Mackinac CountyThousand Island Lake, Gogebic CountyKent Lake, Oakland CountyFord Lake, Washtenaw CountyBig Star Lake, Lake CountyLake Fenton, Genesee CountySage Lake, Ogemaw CountyCaribou Lake, Chippewa CountyOrchard Lake, Oakland CountyAu Train Lake, Alger CountyEast Twin Lake, Montmorency CountyMarble Lake, Branch CountyBeaver Lake, Alger CountyPrickett Lake, Houghton CountyLake Antoine, Dickinson CountyFremont Lake, Newaygo CountyMuskallonge Lake, Luce CountyHess Lake, Newaygo CountyCenter Lake, Jackson CountyIndian Lake, Kalamazoo CountyCrystal Lake, Montcalm CountyBeaver Lake, Alpena CountyRice Lake, Houghton CountyPontiac Lake, Oakland CountyWhite Lake, Oakland CountyGrand Sable Lake, Alger CountyLime Lake, Leelanau CountyCorey Lake, St. Joseph CountyLarks Lake, Emmet CountyHagerman Lake, Iron CountyLobdell Lake, Genesee CountyCisco Lake, Gogebic CountyWhitmore Lake, Livingston CountySunset Lake, Iron CountyNorth Lake, Branch CountyLong Lake, Kalamazoo CountyVineyard Lake, Jackson CountyStony Creek Lake, Macomb CountyUnion Lake, Branch CountyLake Orion, Oakland CountyWhitefish Lake, Montcalm CountyLong Lake, Iosco CountyLake Ann, Benzie CountySand Lake, Lenawee CountyRound Lake, Delta CountyUnion Lake, Oakland CountyPalmer Lake, St. Joseph CountyHorsehead Lake, Mecosta CountyLangford Lake, Gogebic CountyMaceday Lake, Oakland CountyLakeville Lake, Oakland CountySpider Lake, Grand Traverse CountyLincoln Lake, Kent CountyNawakwa Lake, Alger CountyLake Ovid, Clinton CountyNepessing Lake, Lapeer CountyBaw Beese Lake, Hillsdale CountyEight Point Lake, Clare CountyLoon Lake, Iosco CountyCraig Lake, Baraga CountyThornapple Lake, Barry CountyArbutus Lake, Grand Traverse CountyAvalon Lake, Montmorency CountyGoguac Lake, Calhoun CountyBig Bear Lake, Otsego CountyLong Lake, Ionia CountyGrass Lake, Jackson CountyUpper Straits Lake, Oakland CountyMorrison Lake, Ionia CountyWiggins Lake, Gladwin CountyMiner Lake, Allegan CountyBoardman Lake, Grand Traverse CountyLake Chemung, Livingston CountyGrass Lake, Montmorency CountyLake Stella, Alger CountyGreen Lake, Allegan CountyMurray Lake, Kent CountyBirch Lake, Antrim CountyMatteson Lake, Branch CountyBodi Lake, Luce CountyBarton Pond, Washtenaw CountyDeer Lake, Charlevoix CountyLake Mecosta, Mecosta CountyBass Lake, Lake CountyTipsico Lake, Oakland CountySaddle Lake, Van Buren CountyGravel Lake, Van Buren CountyMorrison Lake, Branch CountyLong Lake, Montmorency CountyBoyles Creek, Clare CountyColdwater Lake, Isabella CountyTownline Lake, Montcalm CountyPike Lake, Luce CountyAu Sable Lake, Ogemaw CountyOxbow Lake, Oakland CountyDonnell Lake, Cass CountyThompson Lake, Livingston CountyBaldwins Lake, Cass CountyWoodland Lake, Livingston CountyWinslow Lake, Iron CountyFourmile Lake, Washtenaw CountyVan Auken Lake, Van Buren CountyHart Lake, Oceana CountyAlgonquin Lake, Barry CountyWolverine Lake, Oakland CountyLoon Lake, Oakland CountyBig Mud Lake, Clare CountyEast Crooked Lake, Livingston CountyRush Lake, Montmorency CountyClear Lake, St. Joseph CountyPeach Lake, Ogemaw CountyRoss Lake, Gladwin CountyLily Lake, Clare CountyHalfmoon Lake, Washtenaw CountyMcCollum Lake, Oscoda CountyGourdneck Lake, Kalamazoo CountyOre Lake, Livingston CountySilver Lake, Washtenaw CountyTea Lake, Oscoda CountyLong Lake, Lapeer CountyChristie Lake, Van Buren CountyParadise Lake, Cass CountyJames Lake, Iron CountyBostwick Lake, Kent CountyClear Lake, Barry CountyRoss Lake, Schoolcraft CountyRuth Lake, Baraga CountyLittlefield Lake, Isabella CountyPetes Lake, Schoolcraft CountyCedar Hedge Lake, Grand Traverse CountyBills Lake, Newaygo CountyJewell Lake, Alcona CountyShag Lake, Marquette CountyGrassy Lake, Schoolcraft CountyJoslin Lake, Washtenaw CountyStraits Lake, Schoolcraft CountyMurphy Lake, Tuscola CountyPark Lake, Clinton CountyMaple Lake, Van Buren CountyMiddle Straits Lake, Oakland CountyHardwood Lake, Ogemaw CountyRainbow Lake, Montcalm CountyGreen Lake, Oakland CountyLong Lake, Oakland CountyByers Lake, Schoolcraft CountyBig Island Lake, Schoolcraft CountyBudd Lake, Clare CountyFish Lake, Barry CountyRound Lake, Mecosta CountyBuck Lake, Iron CountyOliverda Lake, Branch CountyBennett Lake, Livingston CountyBass Lake, Luce CountyMack Lake, Oscoda CountyCedar Island Lake, Oakland CountyMcKeever Lake, Schoolcraft CountyZukey Lake, Livingston CountyNichols Lake, Newaygo CountyThreemile Lake, Van Buren CountySugarloaf Lake, Kalamazoo CountyHermansville Lake, Menominee CountyOcqueoc Lake, Presque Isle CountyLake George, Clare CountyDuck Lake, Allegan CountyDuncan Lake, Barry CountyMurphy Lake, Schoolcraft CountyBig Lake, Otsego CountyEast Lake, Luce CountyBruin Lake, Washtenaw CountyLee Lake, Calhoun CountyMiddle Lake, Barry CountyOpal Lake, Otsego CountyWoodhull Lake, Oakland CountyColwell Lake, Schoolcraft CountyCook Lake, Alger CountyGaylanta Lake, Montmorency CountyLong Lake, Branch CountyPerch Lake, Luce CountyTepee Lake, Iron CountyRush Lake, Van Buren CountyHi-Land Lake, Livingston CountyBlue Lake, Kalkaska CountyStager Lake, Iron CountyFinch Lake, Cass CountyNottawa Lake, Calhoun CountyWinfield Lake, Montcalm CountyHeron Lake, Oakland CountyPayne Lake, Barry CountyLake Emma, Presque Isle CountyFive Lakes, Clare CountyHackert Lake, Mason CountyLong Lake, Mason CountyCub Lake, Hillsdale CountyCrooked Lake, Washtenaw CountyBush Lake, Oakland CountyCarney Lake, Dickinson CountyLong Lake, Oakland CountyLake Sixteen, Oakland CountyIdlewild Lake, Lake CountyLake Twentyseven, Otsego CountyBig Fish Lake, Lapeer CountyBass Lake, Iron CountySaddlebag Lake, Cass CountyHorseshoe Lake, Montcalm CountySixmile Lake, Dickinson CountyTyrone Lake, Livingston CountyPrairie Lake, Calhoun CountyEast Lake, Kalkaska CountySand Lake, Montcalm CountyLake George, Ogemaw CountyLake Fifteen, Montmorency CountySelkirk Lake, Allegan CountyRock Lake, Dickinson CountyLoon Lake, Oscoda CountyArgo Pond, Washtenaw CountyHerman Lake, Schoolcraft CountyPike Lake, Houghton CountyLake Lavine, Branch CountyTownline Lake, Schoolcraft CountyGravel Lake, Chippewa CountyMeauwataka Lake, Wexford CountyMuskrat Lake, Oscoda CountySchool Section Lake, Van Buren CountyLittle Bass Lake, Schoolcraft CountyDouglas Lake, Otsego CountySouth Bar Lake, Leelanau CountyDodge Lake, Schoolcraft CountyStoner Lake, Alger CountyGrebe Lake, Ogemaw CountyLittle Smoky Lake, Iron CountyTodd Lake, Osceola CountyLoon Lake, Oakland CountyStearn's Bayou, Ottawa CountyDeer Lake, Iron CountyWilliamsville Lake, Livingston CountyLong Lake, Barry CountyBig Bass Lake, Otsego CountyGamble Lake, Mackinac CountyHalls Lake, Isabella CountyPickerel Lake, Alger CountyWabascon Lake, Calhoun CountyOtter Lake, Lapeer CountyWoodard Lake, Ionia CountyClear Lake, Van Buren CountyScotts Lake, Antrim CountyLake Fourteen, Van Buren CountyHeart Lake, Otsego CountyLoon Lake, Montcalm CountyCrooked Lake, Oakland CountyLake Shamrock, Clare CountyCat Lake, Tuscola CountyHalf Moon Lake, Muskegon CountyStony Lake, Lenawee CountyWolf Lake, Van Buren CountyCarter Lake, Barry CountyLake Minnawanna, Lapeer CountyUpper Jeptha Lake, Van Buren CountyHall Lake, Barry CountyDavison Lake, Lapeer CountyBelas Lake, Cass CountyMoss Lake, Oakland CountyBlue Lake, Kalkaska CountyCoattail Lake, Schoolcraft CountyWindover Lake, Clare CountyLittle Lake Number One, Lake CountySutherland Lake, Clare CountyCrooked Lake, Montmorency CountyHunter Lake, Montcalm CountyPencil Lake, Otsego CountyTriangle Lake, Alger CountyCordley Lake, Livingston CountyWinnipeg Lake, Calhoun CountyRed Lake, Schoolcraft CountyBass Lake, Montcalm CountyMinerva Lake, Schoolcraft CountyBitely Lake, Newaygo CountyFoch Lakes, Montmorency CountyBevins Lake, Oakland CountyHorseshoe Lake, Ogemaw CountyMartin Lake, Otsego CountyThree Legged Lake, Van Buren CountyLime Lake, Kent CountyLake Sixteen, Allegan CountyCrotched Lake, Oakland CountyTee Lake, Ogemaw CountyFish Lake, Van Buren CountySkidway Lake, Ogemaw CountyRansom Lake, Newaygo CountyHoist Lake, Gogebic CountyJackson Lake, Montmorency CountyOnemile Lake, Lenawee CountyBay City Lake, Mackinac CountyLincoln Lake, Osceola CountyMiddle Lake, Barry CountyBridge Lake, Oakland CountyGraham Lakes, Oakland CountyLittle Tomahawk Lake, Presque Isle CountyBirch Lake, Ogemaw CountyFish Lake, Lapeer CountyLodge Lake, Ogemaw CountyLittle Bass Lake, Otsego CountyWalker Lake, Chippewa CountySilver Lake, Washtenaw CountyCrystal Lake, Manistee CountyTwin Lakes, Cheboygan CountyCedar Lake, Lapeer CountyDawson Lake, Iron CountyMiners Lake, Alger CountyMastodon Lake, Gogebic CountyLong Lake, Presque Isle CountyHopkins Lake, Shiawassee CountyDukes Lake, Chippewa CountyOld Headquarters Lake, Luce CountyJan Lake, Schoolcraft CountyPerch Lake, Gladwin CountyDuperow Lake, Lapeer County

Recorded here Other lakes with fish records

How we know

  • 220lakes where an angler registered one (Master Angler)
  • 120lakes where a DNR fisheries survey netted them
  • 128lakes the DNR has stocked with this fish; 83 of them are listed on stocking alone, because these fish keep breeding once established

A lake can appear in more than one line. A lake that isn’t listed may still have them: records exist only where someone caught, netted or stocked them.

Inland lakes on this list run from 5 to 19,592 acres (median 194) and from 4 to 192 ft deep (median 36.5 ft).

When and how big northern pike are caught

From 1,268 Master Angler entries, 1961–2025, from all Michigan waters including the Great Lakes. An entry needs a fish at least 36 in, so these describe big fish that anglers chose to register — where and when people fish, not how many fish a lake holds.

Entries by month

The busiest month is February (15% of entries); 33% come in December–February (lighter bars), mostly through the ice.

Size of registered fish

Half were 41 in or less, and 9 in 10 were under 44.5 in.

Method

Spincasting35%
Ice Fishing23%
Trolling21%
Still Fishing10%
Spearfishing9%

Bait

Artificial lures41%
Minnows and baitfish35%
Live bait (type not given)18%
Combination2%
Other2%
Worms and crawlers1%

Share of entries that recorded a method (1,242) or a bait (751).

Lakes on this site with the most entries

  1. Saginaw Bay, Bay 63
  2. Little Bay de Noc, Delta 59
  3. Higgins Lake, Roscommon 38
  4. Lake St. Clair, St. Clair 27
  5. Lake Independence, Marquette 22
  6. Muskegon Lake, Muskegon 20
  7. Manistique Lake, Mackinac 18
  8. Lake Michigamme, Marquette 17
  9. Houghton Lake, Roscommon 16
  10. Big Bay de Noc, Delta 11

Master Angler entries matched to each lake. A busy lake gets more entries; this is not a ranking of fishing quality.

Often found with

Share of these lakes that also list each fish.

How to recognize it

A single dorsal fin set far back, light spots on a darker body, and scales on the whole cheek but only the upper half of the gill cover. The Michigan Fishing Guide gives five or fewer sensory pores under each side of the lower jaw (the DNR’s species page says five to six).

Don’t confuse it with

Muskellunge — Dark markings on a light body, scales on only the upper half of the cheek, and six or more pores under each side of the jaw.
Tiger muskellunge — A pike × muskie hybrid with dark wavy bars. Rare, and more common where pike are plentiful.

Up close

Illustration of a northern pike's head from the side and slightly below, showing five sensory pores along each side of the lower jaw, a fully scaled cheek, and scales on only the upper half of the gill cover.
Northern pike: five pores under each side of the lower jaw; the whole cheek is scaled; the gill cover is scaled only on its upper half.
Illustration of a muskellunge's head from the side and slightly below, showing seven and eight sensory pores along the two sides of the lower jaw, with scales on only the upper half of the cheek and gill cover.
Muskellunge: six or more pores under each side of the lower jaw (seven and eight drawn here); the cheek and gill cover are scaled only on their upper halves.

AI-generated close-ups, not photographs, drawn from the cited descriptions. They show what to look for; they are not a substitute for an expert identification (provenance).

Life in a Michigan lake

Pike lurk in weedy, clear, shallow water near shore and move somewhat deeper in midsummer; in rivers they hold around log jams and fallen trees. They are ambush predators that will take almost any animal that fits in their jaws, including frogs, crayfish, ducklings and small mammals.

They spawn in the shallows in April or May, soon after the ice goes out and before muskies spawn. Young pike grow fast; females mature at 3–4 years and males at 2–3.

Source: Michigan DNR species page.

Rules and eating

Check the rules before you keep fish. Each lake page shows the regulations that apply there, and the Michigan Fishing Guide is the official source. Before eating fish from a particular lake, check Michigan’s Eat Safe Fish guidelines.

All 381 lakes with northern pike

Show every lake, by county

Alpena County 2

Beaver Lake, Thunder Bay

Bay County 1

Saginaw Bay

Clinton County 2

Lake Ovid, Park Lake

Crawford County 1

Lake Margrethe

Genesee County 2

Lake Fenton, Lobdell Lake

Hillsdale County 2

Baw Beese Lake, Cub Lake

Houghton County 3

Pike Lake, Prickett Lake, Rice Lake

Huron County 1

Wildfowl Bay

Keweenaw County 1

Lake Gratiot

Macomb County 1

Stony Creek Lake

Menominee County 1

Hermansville Lake

Midland County 1

Sanford Lake

Missaukee County 1

Lake Missaukee

Muskegon County 2

Half Moon Lake, Muskegon Lake

Oceana County 1

Hart Lake

Ontonagon County 1

Lake Gogebic

Osceola County 2

Lincoln Lake, Todd Lake

Roscommon County 2

Higgins Lake, Houghton Lake

Shiawassee County 1

Hopkins Lake

St. Clair County 1

Lake St. Clair

St. Joseph County 3

Clear Lake, Corey Lake, Palmer Lake

Tuscola County 2

Cat Lake, Murphy Lake

Sources

← All fish of Michigan