Orono Lake — Attraction in Elk River

Well, folks, let me tell you about my recent expedition to the legendary Lake "Still Waters Run Deep" (spoiler alert: they mostly just run shallow and… empty). I packed my finest fishing gear, my most optimistic attitude, and enough snacks to survive a small apocalypse, all in the hopes of landing the big one. What I caught instead was a profound sense of existential dread and a sunburn on my left ear.

This lake. Oh, this lake. It's beautiful, I'll give it that. Like a perfectly staged backdrop for a nature documentary about the profound loneliness of aquatic life. The water is crystal clear, allowing you to see… absolutely nothing of interest swimming beneath the surface. I spent a good hour staring intently, convinced a school of majestic trout was just shyly hiding behind a particularly photogenic pebble. Nope. Just pebbles. Very well-organized pebbles, mind you, but still.

I tried every trick in the book. Worms that wriggled with enticing promises, shiny lures that would make a magpie jealous, even a secret family bait recipe passed down through generations (mostly involving stale bread and wishful thinking). The fish remained stubbornly, suspiciously absent. It was as if they'd all received an Evite to a "Do Not Attend: Annoying Human with Hook" party and RSVP'd with a resounding splash… elsewhere.

At one point, a dragonfly landed on my fishing rod, looked me directly in its multifaceted eyes, and seemed to silently convey, "You know, you might have better luck trying to catch dust bunnies." Even the local wildlife was subtly mocking my fruitless efforts.

The only "bite" I got all day was from a particularly aggressive mosquito who clearly hadn't read the memo about the lake's barren ecosystem. Apparently, something thrives in Still Waters Run Deep, and it's small, itchy, and has a vendetta against human ankles.

So, if you're looking for a serene, fish-free body of water perfect for philosophical reflection on the meaninglessness of angling, then Lake "Still Waters Run Deep" is your Shangri-La. Bring a good book, plenty of bug spray, and maybe lower your expectations from "trophy fish" to "interesting water beetle." As for me, I'm pretty sure the only thing I'll be reeling in from this trip is a pizza. At least I know those exist. Two stars for the scenery, minus three for the distinct lack of finned...

Lake Orono is a great lake for recreation and fishing!!! I love it here!!! They have an awesome park! Awesome pavilions! Volleyball court! Splash pad and skatepark!!! A very...

Nice Playground for the kids , the water use to be really nasty , it's a little better now that they drained the lake and cleaned it but still nothing I...