Minnesota · Dakota County
Orchard Lake Fishing guide
Orchard Lake sits in Dakota County, Minnesota, and covers 238 acres, reaching 33 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 9.4 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 14 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassGood numbers66.6per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 51 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 51 fish
2022Lengths measured · 203 fish
2017Lengths measured · 187 fish
2016Lengths measured · 52 fish
2012Northern pikeJust a few5.8per gill net21"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 24 fish
2022Lengths measured · 41 fish
2012Lengths measured · 30 fish
2006Lengths measured · 59 fish
2001BluegillJust a few14.4per trap net4"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 153 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 153 fish
2022Lengths measured · 1041 fish
2012Lengths measured · 1299 fish
2006Lengths measured · 4058 fish
2001CrappieJust a few1.1per trap net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 25 fish
2022Lengths measured · 26 fish
2012Lengths measured · 40 fish
2006Lengths measured · 21 fish
2001Present and managed by the DNR.
No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Orchard Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 74% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 74% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 19" | 20" | 28" |
| 2017 | 20" | 12" | — |
| 2016 | 19" | — | — |
| 2012 | 18" | 20" | 29" |
| 2006 | 16" | 25" | 30" |
| 2001 | 19" | 22" | 32" |
| 1996 | 14" | 21" | 34" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 35,000 fry |
| 2024 | Tiger Muskellunge | 200 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 45,000 fry |
| 2022 | Tiger Muskellunge | 344 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Tiger Muskellunge | 323 yearlings |
| 2018 | Tiger Muskellunge | 468 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Tiger Muskellunge | 468 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Orchard Lake on September 4th, 2025, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 32 survey sites evenly spaced 70 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 57.8 (+/- 3.4) out of 100 possible. A score of 57.8 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is Poor (50-65.9). Approximately 88 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 52.9 (+/- 2.8) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Poor (50-65.9), while four undeveloped sites had a mean score of 91.7 (+/- 3.2) with High (85-91.9) habitat quality.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Orchard Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Orchard Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Orchard Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Orchard Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Murphy Lake · 45 ac · 1.8 mi
- Marion Lake · 530 ac · 2.3 mi
- Crystal Lake · 293 ac · 2.5 mi
- Wood Park Lake · 14 ac · 3.5 mi
- Sunset Pond · 45 ac · 3.6 mi
- Cleary Lake · 145 ac · 4.1 mi
- McColl Pond · 23 ac · 4.9 mi
- Lower Prior Lake · 956 ac · 5.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Orchard Lake?
Orchard Lake reaches 33 ft at its deepest point; about 74% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Orchard Lake?
Orchard Lake covers 238 acres with about 3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Orchard Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Orchard Lake average 9.4 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Orchard Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge, rock bass, channel catfish.
Is Orchard Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Orchard Lake have a public access?
Yes. Orchard Lake has one public access site: Orchard Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Orchard Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Orchard Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Orchard Lake in 2025, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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