Lake Orion Fishing
A 482-acre Michigan lake in Oakland County.
Pick for catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo of Kent Lake: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
Meet Lake Orion
Plan on 482 acres of open lake at Lake Orion in Oakland County. Lake Orion is the closest town on the Census list, under a mile away. The MDNR handles it from the Lake Erie unit; it is a Lower Peninsula water. The lake lies in the Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains ecoregion and the St. Clair-Detroit basin.
Recent MDNR records show common carp, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike and sunfish. MDNR access data map 1 public launch. Landsat-based Secchi depth averaged about 12.7 feet in 2023. It is on the MDNR Family Friendly Fishing list.
For the catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 Fish the MDNR has found in Lake Orion
The species chips for Lake Orion draw on the MDNR Fish Atlas, its fishing site lists and stocking logs.
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Ramps serving Lake Orion
- Lake Orion Boat Access1 lane, 34 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Bald Mountain State Recreation Area
MDNR fishing sites at Lake Orion
- Lake Orion fishing site, Lake Orionbank fishing area, Dawn until dusk
More launches around Lake Orion
- Chamberlain Lake Boat AccessChamberlain Lake, 2 miles east
- Shoe Lake Boat AccessShoe Lake, 3 miles east
- Heart Lake Boat Access near Lake OrionHeart Lake, 3 miles east
- Prince Lake Boat AccessPrince Lake, 3 miles east
- East Graham Lake Boat AccessEast Graham Lake, 3 miles east
- Paint Lake Boat AccessPaint Lake, 3 miles northwest
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Water clarity at Lake Orion
Satellite Secchi depth for Lake Orion comes from EGLE summer averages (meters in the source, feet here).
Chlorophyll a was estimated at 3.44 micrograms per liter in 2023.
EGLE Michigan Inland Lakes Water Clarity layer (Landsat, July to September), checked October 2026. Depth is not published here: the layer depth fields are unreliable.
Keeper rules posted for Lake Orion
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Lower Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Lower Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout in unclassified lakes | 5, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater; minimum 8 inches | Open all year |
Lake Orion follows the statewide inland table for the Lower Peninsula, plus any county exception below.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
The plant history of Lake Orion
MDNR crews planted Lake Orion 1 times (2024 to 2024), 52,325 fish, chiefly walleye.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 12, 2024 | Walleye | Muskegon | 3.8 in | 52,325 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Lake Orion in the MDNR tournament system
MDNR tournament registrations and published winners for Lake Orion sit on one page.
Lake Orion next to nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Orion | 482 | 1 | 12.7 | 8 | |
| Long Lake near Lake Orion, Oakland County | 1 mile northeast | 104 | 0 | 15.2 | 0 |
| Indian Lake near Lake Orion, Oakland County, 29 acres | 3 miles east | 29 | 1 | 12.1 | 0 |
| Clear/Squaw Lake | 3 miles northwest | 63 | 1 | 11.9 | 0 |
| Graham Lake (central) | 3 miles east | 10 | 1 | 12.4 | 0 |
| Trout Lake, Oakland County | 3 miles southeast | 65 | 1 | 8.4 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Near Lake Orion
Nearby inland lakes for a Lake Orion trip
- Long Lake near Lake Orion, Oakland County1 mile northeast
- Indian Lake near Lake Orion, Oakland County, 29 acres3 miles east
- Clear/Squaw Lake3 miles northwest
- Graham Lake (central)3 miles east
- Trout Lake, Oakland County3 miles southeast
Tackle stores within a drive of Lake Orion
- Ludeman, Cathymarina, Lake Orion, under a mile
- Snug Harbor Bait & Marinabait and tackle shop, Lake Orion, under a mile
- Waters Edge Fish Artistrybait and tackle shop, LAke Orion, 1 mile
- Oakland Mobile Marinemarina, Oxford, 2 miles
- Gander Mountain, 2241 Eaton Gate Rdbait and tackle shop, Lake Orion, 3 miles
- Bass Pro Shops, 4500 Baldwin Rdsporting goods store, Auburn Hills, 6 miles
Hiring a guide for Lake Orion
- Take Me Fishin Michigancharter, Waterford, (248) 343-9970
- Waters Edge Fish Artistrycharter, LAke Orion, (248) 693-6990
- Woodland Rivers Guide Servicecharter, Rochester Hills, (248) 608-0908
- Walleye Kingfishing guide, Waterford, (231) 557-2755
Places to stay around Lake Orion
- Lake Orionunder a mile
- Oxford3 miles
- Lake Angelus7 miles
County fishing pages for Lake Orion
- Oakland Countyseat: Pontiac
Piscifun reels worth packing for Lake Orion
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Lakes and streams near Lake Orion, pictured
Photo: TheWxResearcher, CC0 1.0
Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Saginaw Future Inc, CC BY 2.0
The usual questions about Lake Orion
How far is Lake Orion from a Michigan town?
It lies in Oakland County, Lake Erie Management Unit, under a mile from Lake Orion.
How large is Lake Orion?
482 acres, by EGLE mapping.
Which launch serves Lake Orion?
There are 1 public launch; Lake Orion Boat Access has the most lanes.
Which species are in Lake Orion?
The MDNR names common carp, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, sunfish and walleye.
What are the keeper rules for Lake Orion?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Which Michigan license covers Lake Orion?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day.
Is Lake Orion a clear lake?
Roughly 12.7 feet (2023 satellite estimate).
Where do Lake Orion anglers pick up worms?
Ludeman, Cathy, under a mile away.
Which fish are planted in Lake Orion?
Latest year on file, 2024: 52,325 walleye.
Put Lake Orion on the Michigan trip list
Fees, seasons and every statewide table are on the license page.