Orchard Lake

Orchard Lake is a lake in Dakota County, Minnesota. Orchard Lake covers about 232 acres, reaches a recorded 33 feet and holds about 2,236 acre-feet.

What to Expect at Orchard Lake

Orchard Lake is small enough to check weeds, wood, rock and the first deep drop without spending the whole day moving around.

Fish and Useful Baits at Orchard Lake

Fish reported from Orchard Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, central mudminnow, channel catfish, common carp, golden shiner, green sunfish, iowa darter, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Orchard, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.

Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish

For panfish at Orchard, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill, pumpkinseed, and green sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.

Walleye

For roaming fish at Orchard, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.

Northern Pike

For large predators at Orchard, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.

Catfish, Bullheads, and Carp

For bottom fishing at Orchard, put cut bait, a nightcrawler or prepared bait on bottom for channel catfish, and fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads, and use corn or dough bait on a simple bottom rig for carp.

Rock Bass

At Orchard, use a small jig, worm or tiny crankbait around rock and firm shorelines for rock bass.

A Simple Fishing Plan for Orchard Lake

On a first trip to Orchard, check one quiet cove, one rocky or firm point and the nearby deep water with a moving lure, then use a jig or worm where you find fish.

When to Fish Orchard Lake

Spring at Orchard is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is a good time to fish shade, weeds and the first drop into deeper water. Fall at Orchard can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.