What is the best pike and muskie lake in the Midwest?

Lake Oahe in South Dakota is our first pick; Lake Sakakawea and Devils Lake are close behind.

When is the best time to fish for pike and muskie?

Prime range. Weed edges and shallow bays. Prime range. Weed edges and shallow bays.

Best pike and muskie lakes in the Midwest: 12 lakes to fish

For big toothy fish in the Midwest, these are the lakes to know. Here are 12 lakes where pike and muskie are on record, with where to start on each.

The lakes

Lake	State	Also holds
Lake Oahe	South Dakota	walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish
Lake Sakakawea	North Dakota	walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish
Devils Lake	North Dakota	walleye, yellow perch, white bass
Leech Lake	Minnesota	walleye, yellow perch
Lake St. Clair	Michigan	smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch
Lake Vermilion	Minnesota	walleye, smallmouth bass
Lake Mille Lacs	Minnesota	walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch
Houghton Lake	Michigan	walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill
Geneva Lake	Wisconsin	smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch
Lake Sharpe	South Dakota	walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, white bass, yellow perch,
Lake Audubon	North Dakota	walleye, smallmouth bass, white bass
Waubay Lake	South Dakota	walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, white bass, crappie

1. Lake Oahe, South Dakota

At 370,000 acres of water, Lake Oahe is a huge piece of water. It holds northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and catfish. It goes down to about 205 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has two sheltered coves and two point drop-offs: good places to start.

Lake Oahe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota

Lake Sakakawea covers 307,000 acres of water. Northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and catfish are the draw. At about 180 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

Lake Sakakawea today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Devils Lake, North Dakota

At about 84,800 acres, Devils Lake is a huge piece of water. Expect northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and white bass.

Devils Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Leech Lake, Minnesota

At 103,000 acres, Leech Lake is a huge piece of water. It holds muskie, northern pike, walleye and yellow perch. At about 156 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and a wind-blown bank to work.

Leech Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake St. Clair, Michigan

Lake St. Clair spreads over 275,000 acres. Muskie, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch are the draw. It goes down to about 27 ft. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.

Lake St. Clair today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Lake Vermilion, Minnesota

At 39,300 acres of water, Lake Vermilion is a big lake. Muskie, northern pike, walleye and smallmouth bass are the draw. It goes down to about 76 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.

Lake Vermilion today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Mille Lacs, Minnesota

At some 132,000 acres, Lake Mille Lacs is a huge piece of water. Muskie, walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch are the draw. The deepest water is around 42 ft.

Lake Mille Lacs today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Houghton Lake, Michigan

At 20,100 acres of water, Houghton Lake is a big lake. It holds northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass and bluegill. The deepest water is around 22 ft.

Houghton Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Geneva Lake, Wisconsin

Geneva Lake spreads over 5,400 acres. The fish here are northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 135 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.

Geneva Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Sharpe, South Dakota

Lake Sharpe covers some 56,900 acres. You will find it next to Fort Pierre. Expect northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and catfish. It goes down to about 78 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look. Lake Sharpe is a Missouri River reservoir behind Big Bend Dam, with walleye as its primary gamefish.

Lake Sharpe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Lake Audubon, North Dakota

Lake Audubon spreads over 16,600 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Bismarck (about 54 miles). Expect muskie, northern pike, walleye and smallmouth bass. At about 60 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake Audubon is a sub-impoundment separated from the much larger Lake Sakakawea by an embankment, and is filled by pumping water from Sakakawea.

Lake Audubon today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Waubay Lake, South Dakota

Waubay Lake spreads over some 15,500 acres. The lake is about 2.6 miles southwest of Webster. Expect northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. It goes down to about 31 ft. Waubay Lake is a natural glacial lake in northeastern South Dakota managed predominantly as a walleye and yellow perch fishery.

Waubay Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pike and muskie through the year in the Midwest

Use these as a starting point and let the water temperature decide: the lake pages show it every morning.

Spring: Prime range. Weed edges and shallow bays.
Summer: Warm water. Bigger fish move deeper; best early.
Fall: Prime range. Weed edges and shallow bays.
Winter: Cold. Slow baits near weed edges and drop-offs.