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Orchard Lake


GlassEyeangler

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I noticed a few people asking about how the fishing has been on Orchard Lake. My fishing buddy and I have been out there at least once or twice a week. The results aren't too bad! We've mostly been catching crappies and sunnys; however, my buddy caught a walleye just before the season closed. Perfect eating size...15" to 17". We were fishing earlier in the season and some guy walked up to us to show off his 20+" walleye, so they have been biting...just not often enough. We also noticed a man fishing near the beach with a couple of nice size northerns (late Feb).

We've been fishing from dusk to about midnight in 8' to 12' of water. The last couple of outings have been very slow...I think the bite is on closer to early morning timeframe?!?! If your going out there - from the boat access, try driving out to the reed bed in the middle of the lake...you'll see the reeds sticking out of the ice, walk about 50ft North (towards Buck Hill), and drill through. You should have around 10' to 12' of water to work with. We're using crappie minnows and grubs on jigs.

Don't worry about the ice...just last Friday night I fished all around the reed bed, and buired my auger into the ice every time...I'm estimating 2 to 2.5 feet thick still!

Good luck, and maybe I'll see some of you out there this week.

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