a LAKE ORION - oakland county bass anglers

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LAKE ORION
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Oakland County
Located in Bald Mountain State Recreation Area
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Area map page(s): 6 - 7
Township / Range / Section coord:
4N
10E
2,3, 10, 11
Surface water
area:
470 acres
Maximum depth: 58 ft.
Water clarity: NA
town: Lake Orion Heights
Latitude / Longitude: 42 46.90 i 83 15,00
Nearest
Accessibility: State-owned public access on north shore (nominal
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fee
charged by Parks & Recreation Division); hard-surfaced ramp; parking
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Accommodations: Boat rental, courtesy pier, picnic, camping, cabins, toilets
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Survey start - end dates: NA
Survey objective: NA
Gear type(s) utilized: NA
Fish cover types observed: Sparse logs and stumps, abundant
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docks
Fish foods observed: Aquatic insects, minnows and crayfish
FISHING INFORMATION: Lake Orion is best known as a largemouth sass aKe :hough it also has a good number of northern
pike. s&)v's Sco: Ca.,^n:e i of Orion Marine and Pontoon Rentals,
10 Park B v: -3q,€ I":' '',,"11 48362, (248) 693-1076. This 506acre lake is cre a':*g :,€s: ' 3,a< a'C County for bass, he says.
Orion has lots of s- z^: 5-:: *^:€"s :: :e *cund, The northerns
average about26lFrc-es a-I :": :.: a s: ^as ;ocd numbers of
bluegills and crappies -"*: --::,t-:: rt, l:;?^l ^eavily on
when you visit the lake ia- r - :-i :"€:s: - **,*i- :-g ,**33i e','e s
are down, spinnerbaits a-: :*a-xr3'ls :: *\* -: " - : s= a:=- :ass
But the weeds in this &q.ts a'g -B3l*"., z-: ,\-i- s-**3" 3** *€,S
your best bet is to use lop\rta:e* 3a :s a-: : -:::3 :s I ,3- :-:
weeds. You may also have luc$< w il'- . is : as:,: fi3'-s :* lae:diving crankbaits while working th'e l"cD-:-S Or o. :aS 3iS c'
points, coves, islands, bays and drop-o'f1s so ycu wi{l find lust about
any condition you want to fish Try some of those back bays, especially a couple along the western shore (Spots 1) in your search
for largemouths and pike. Another bay on the southeast corner of
the lake and an area near the public access (Spots 2) are both
good places to locate northerns. Try working the drop-offs near an
island on the south end of Orion (Spot 3). There you will often find
some of those bass that draw many to this lake. A point on the
east side of the lake (Spot 4) is another location where bass
anglers often do well. And Campbell says you don't want to miss
the bass action in the little, stump-filled bay on the south end, just
west of Bellvue Street (Spot 5). You might toss spinnerbaits to the
wood in this area to produce bass strikes. Or, you can 'twitch" a
crankbait in amongst the stumps. Either way should otfer a good
chance at some nice fish. Orion isn't known for an abundance of
woody cover, so this little bay on the south end acts like a magnet.
Like most lakes in this heavily populated area that allow it, Orion
has its share of recreational boaters
- so you should follow the
normal advice to fish early, late, or on weekdays if you can, However, the many coves and points noted above also ensure that
lhere are many locations where you can get away from power::ats, Orion once had too many panfish, but don't be put off by
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FISH STOCKING DATA
vear
-96
97
97
98
00
specles
Walleye
Walleye
Walleye
Walleye
Walleye
length (inches)
1
.64
2.44
2.28
2.32
1.84
# released
98,747
55,759
41 ,1 68
97,858
43,674
'ecent years. That's because a DNR project to thin the panfish
:::- a: c^ i. the 1980s has greatly improved the fishery. The DNR
:.,: ::s :' : {e *i"gerlings in at that time, and those grown-up
-:,:-e--s 3-lr*, :-g ['33ess worked, The lake has been stocked
il t* ,,r3 Ey'es s toe i 3 6 :L tf e DNR. Despite this, a 1997 survey
shcwed littie evrdence sf ,r, aiieye su rvival. lt should be noted,
though, that an overabundance of weeds and private docks in this
lake makes sampling difficult, Thus, the lack of walleyes in the survey nets may be rnore a matter of poor sampling than poor survival
and recruitment, This lake draws a fair number of winter anglers,
with northerns and panfish being the species most often pulled
through the ice, Most holes are drilled on the north and southeast
bays,
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