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Pumpkinseed
Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Flathead Catfish
Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain 
White Bass
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0 
Burbot
Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
Michigan inland lakes
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Orchard Lake, Oakland County Fishing
A 796-acre Michigan lake in Oakland County.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Kent Lake: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
Oakland County
Orchard Lake, Oakland County: size, place and fish
Oakland County holds Orchard Lake, Oakland County, a lake of 796 acres. The nearest Census place is Orchard Lake Village, under a mile from the shore point. Management unit: Lake Erie; peninsula: Lower Peninsula. Its water heads toward the St. Clair-Detroit basin, in the Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains ecoregion.
MDNR records name blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, largemouth bass, mimic shiner and northern logperch. You can launch at 1 public launch. A 2023 satellite estimate shows about 12.6 feet of visibility.
796acres
1public launches
12.6 ftsatellite clarity
12fish on record
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What swims in Orchard Lake, Oakland County
Each fish below has an MDNR record tied to Orchard Lake, Oakland County.
Blacknose shiner Bluegill Bluntnose minnow Largemouth bass Mimic shiner Northern logperch Pumpkinseed Rock bass Sand shiner Smallmouth bass Spotfin shiner Cisco
How often surveys found each fish at Orchard Lake, Oakland County
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | 8 | 1997 |
| Bluegill | 6 | 1906 to 1997 |
| Sand shiner | 5 | 1906 to 1997 |
| Blacknose shiner | 3 | 1906 to 1997 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 3 | 1927 to 1997 |
| Mimic shiner | 3 | 1927 to 1997 |
| Pumpkinseed | 3 | 1906 to 1997 |
| Northern logperch | 2 | 1927 to 1997 |
| Rock bass | 2 | 1927 to 1997 |
| Smallmouth bass | 2 | 1927 to 1997 |
| Spotfin shiner | 1 | 1997 |
| Lake herring | 5 | 1976 |
| Brook silverside | 3 | 1906 to 1927 |
| Johnny darter | 3 | 1906 to 1927 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Launches
Launch sites at Orchard Lake, Oakland County
- Orchard Lake Boat Access3 lanes, 62 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Dodge 4 State Park
Ramps within reach of Orchard Lake, Oakland County
- Dodge #4 State Park – Cass LakeCass Lake, 2 miles north
- Union Lake South Boat AccessUnion Lake, 4 miles west
- Crescent Lake Boat AccessCrescent Lake, 4 miles north
- Union Lake Boat Access near Orchard Lake VillageUnion Lake, 4 miles northwest
- Long Lake Boat Access near Wolverine LakeLong Lake, 5 miles northwest
- Wolverine Lake Boat AccessWolverine Lake, 6 miles west
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Clarity
The color and clarity of Orchard Lake, Oakland County
EGLE derives the Orchard Lake, Oakland County readings from Landsat, July through September.
Algae, measured as chlorophyll a, ran 2.8 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.
Regulations
Season dates at Orchard Lake, Oakland County
| 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 |
The table gives the statewide inland limits Orchard Lake, Oakland County falls under on the Lower Peninsula.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Tournaments
Club and trail events on Orchard Lake, Oakland County
See the Orchard Lake, Oakland County tournament page for organizers and weights.
Compare
Orchard Lake, Oakland County compared with close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orchard Lake, Oakland County | 796 | 1 | 12.6 | 12 | |
| Cass Lake | 2 miles north | 1,248 | 1 | 10.8 | 11 |
| Green Lake near Orchard Lake Village, Oakland County | 3 miles west | 163 | 0 | 12.8 | 1 |
| Walnut Lake | 3 miles southeast | 236 | 0 | 14.2 | 19 |
| Union Lake, Oakland County | 3 miles northwest | 467 | 2 | 12.1 | 1 |
| Crescent Lake | 4 miles north | 91 | 1 | 8.6 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Nearby
A short drive from Orchard Lake, Oakland County
Lakes in the same corner as Orchard Lake, Oakland County
- Cass Lake2 miles north
- Green Lake near Orchard Lake Village, Oakland County3 miles west
- Walnut Lake3 miles southeast
- Union Lake, Oakland County3 miles northwest
- Crescent Lake4 miles north
Shops to stop at on the way to Orchard Lake, Oakland County
- Cass Lake Dry Dock Marina Incmarina, Waterford, 2 miles
- Club Royale Marinamarina, Waterford, 3 miles
- SkipperBud'smarina, Waterford, 3 miles
- Oakland County Boat Clubmarina, Sylvan Lake, 3 miles
- Lakeside Marinemarina, Commerce Township, 4 miles
- Summit Northmarina, Waterford, 5 miles
Guides that list Orchard Lake, Oakland County
- Michigan Guide Inccharter, Novi, (248) 305-7337
- Take Me Fishin Michigancharter, Waterford, (248) 343-9970
- Walleye Kingfishing guide, Waterford, (231) 557-2755
- Wilderness Journey- BWCA Guide & Outfitterfishing guide, Novi, (734) 664-0353
Base camps for Orchard Lake, Oakland County
- Orchard Lake Villageunder a mile
- Keego Harbor2 miles
- Sylvan Lake3 miles
Counties that Orchard Lake, Oakland County spans
- Oakland Countyseat: Pontiac
Piscifun
Piscifun gear picked for Orchard Lake, Oakland County
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Fish ID
Species to expect at Orchard Lake, Oakland County
Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain
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Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers
Things to settle before fishing Orchard Lake, Oakland County
Which part of Michigan holds Orchard Lake, Oakland County?
Its shore is in Oakland County, Lake Erie Management Unit, under a mile from Orchard Lake Village.
What size is Orchard Lake, Oakland County?
796 acres of surface water.
Does Orchard Lake, Oakland County have a public boat launch?
MDNR maps 1 public launch; Orchard Lake Boat Access is a good start.
What swims in Orchard Lake, Oakland County?
blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, largemouth bass, mimic shiner, northern logperch and pumpkinseed, per MDNR records.
Which MDNR rules govern Orchard Lake, Oakland County?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Can a visitor fish Orchard Lake, Oakland County on a Michigan license?
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.
Does Orchard Lake, Oakland County run clear or murky?
Summer 2023 imagery: about 12.6 feet.
Who sells bait nearest Orchard Lake, Oakland County?
Cass Lake Dry Dock Marina Inc sits about 2 miles from the lake.
Pick a weekend for Orchard Lake, Oakland County
The license page holds every Michigan fee and season.