Stren Oroville UPDATE

[Gator]

I have been hearing lots of questions about the status of the FLW Stren Series event at Oroville, so I put in a call to Chris Jones to clarify FLW's position. I just got off the phone with him.

The Stren event is a GO and WILL BE HELD AT OROVILLE.

FLW has been in contact daily with the powers that be in/around Oroville and they are being assured that the Bidwell ramp will be completed in time for the event. In the event that inclement weather (which would be a blessing for the lake water level) prevents the ramp from being completed, the launch will happen at the Spillway.

In the event that anglers have to launch at the Spillway, the following is being prepared:

They are in the process of getting a temporary dock in place at the spillway ramp.
Shuttle service will be provided between the two ramps for anglers.
Wreckers and 4WD vehicles will be available if needed to assist with boat launch/retrieval.

Chris did recommend that if you are going to be there, you should look at renting a slip to alleviate any launching/retrieval problems. There are currently 85 slips available at Bidwell marina.

If you have any further questions, you can contact FLW.

[Scott Shambre]

Contact info for Bidwell. I sent an email to them with no reply

[Stratos278]

Here's the phone # for Oroville SRA (should have Bidwell info)
(530)538-2200
hope that's correct...

[Murph]

Did all of these Storms that just came through, miss Oroville?

[Scott Shambre]

No Murph, watching the Feds screw around really sucks.

They have been yo-yo'ing Shasta, Folsom and Oroville alternating release times to keep sending water into the Delta. Last check, the salinity line was moving in further as they were catching Starry Flounder as far in as the Powerlines. There isn't much water left to drain, but evidently they're not in a position to capture any of what we have recieved.

Another case of State and Federal mismanagement of tax payer resources!!!!

[Robchik]

Here's Gator's post of a week ago.

[Guest]

I just got off the phone with FLW and spoke to the tournament director as I'm on the fence with signing up for this tournament. As of this morning there are 90 boaters + 13 additional that just signed up today. There was a waiting list yesterday of 26 coanlgers and now that number is down to 13 with the recent boater sign ups.

When I asked him about the water situation he said that they are still a go because they are expecting the lake to fill another 4+ feet with the rain storm that they just had. This is the current thinking and because of the water situation, etc that's why they're not already at 120 boats. I let him know that I've been fishing as a co-angler on the FLW Series for the last 2 years and am interested in fishing from the front end of the boat for the Stren series, however without an official word on the go/no go and the worries on the talk on the internet I'll most likely sign up officially at the very end. I told him I had to because (a) I'm coming from out of State and (b) I have to request the specific time off work to fish the event. If they change dates or locations that puts a significant impact on anglers traveling from out of state.

He said that I can sign up at the tournament if need be, however he would ask that we give the co-anglers at least 10 days so that they can make arrangements to get there. He said that they are currently working/getting ready for the Stren Falcon lake event which is held 1/15 - 1/17. I assume that their focus is going to be on this event, however while this is going on they will be keeping an eye on the Lake Oroville situation.

If there was ever a time that we need the Gary Dobyns rain dance, this would definitely be it.

Gary -- I think the fate of this tournament rests in your hands now.

[kopper_bass]

Vince,
Honestly, while we all want the rain to raise the lake level, i think rain right now would be a bad thing for Oroville. Having rain would do the following:
a) cause delays in completion of the ramp at Bidwell.
b) cause a mess to the only 1 lane ramp open at the dam. While its a great rock packed ramp, rain can only make it worse and more treacherous.

Just my 02.

Kopper_Bass

[Guest]

But what about rain in the areas that feed the Rivers? I think that's the rain run off that they are counting on not the rain there at the lake.

[Scott Shambre]

They're all one in the same Vince, it can't rain just in the hills around Oroville without hitting the Spillway/Bidwell area too.

[Guest]

Thinking outside the box here just for a moment...

What about the water situation at the Oroville Afterbay, Collins lake or New Bullards Bar Reservoir? If they plan on 120-150 boats could either of those places be a potential alternate and still benefit the Oroville community? Leave say day 3 at Lake Oroville?

[Mike]

Fu(K it! Move it to the Delta already!!!

[Phil Burgess]

+1 FOR MIKE


COME ON DELTA!!!!!!

[Guest]

+2 for Mike... man if they just said we're going to the Delta I would have no problem signing up. Probably would get 160-170 boats too.

[Robchik]

The Afterbay is pretty small, especially for 100+ boats. The delta would be the most logical choice for a move, as far as facilities and water. Shasta would have been fun. Who knows, as it's out of our hands.

[Scott Shambre]

DWR has put down alot of gravel on the Spillway ramp and it is very nicely packed all the way to the waterline. Absolutely no problem getting in or out and I was by myself.

HINT : If fishing alone, find a piece of old carpet and lay it on the ground where you want to beach your boat. I left one there for all to use.

They had 3 trucks full of gravel in and out of the Spillway and a front loader prepping what will be the parking area. It looks like they are planning on the Stren going out of the Spillway by the work being put into the ramp and parking areas.

The ramp at Bidwell looks like it will be done, the rebar is in and they are ready for concrete. The only problem is that there is about 20 vertical feet of water needed to be able to barely use the new ramp. Because of the erosion boulders at the bottom, there is NO chance of metal racks being used to extend that ramp.

Lake is still dropping about 3 inches a day, it dropped to 659 today after rising to 661 right after Xmas. I don't know what DWR is doing, but their stupidity with OUR water needs to stop. Plug it dammit and let it start to recover.

I am thinking that they should pull slipped docks over to the Spillway and rent them out to guys that want to leave their rigs there overnite. They will also have to provide security for that as well, but it would be nothing to bring a Houseboat over and put the security in there.

There would be NO power there of course and that is a whole different issue. Can you say huge military generator!!!!!

[Jeff Garmeson]

Just curious how many others are waiting to see what happens with the lake level before they decide whether to sign up or not?

I can attest that I am...Vince is, that's two. Any others???

[Scott Shambre]

Jeff, just plan on launching from the Spillway and no matter how it changes it can only get better.

[Guest]

Jeff, just plan on launching from the Spillway and no matter how it changes it can only get better.

Easier said than done when you're not far from the lake. If I go as a co I'll end up flying southwest wed am into Sac. If I go with the pointy end means more time off work to prefish and driving from AZ. My company cut back my PTO/floating holidays this year so it's a fine line I have to walk with working remote, sick days (cough get the net) and PTO between the FLW Series and Stren.

Just wish I hadn't put my deposit down so early for the FLW Series this year before the company announced the change.

[Scott Shambre]

Hey Vince, didn't I sign up with you in a 100% Bass Pro/Am about 7 or 8 years ago. I think you lived in the south bay then.

[Obi-Hub]

They're all one in the same Vince, it can't rain just in the hills around Oroville without hitting the Spillway/Bidwell area too.

Not really Scott. I lived just up above Oroville for 6 years. You would get a an inch at the lake and 6-8 inches in the watershed area. We had something like 12 inches at the last AC ProAM I fished at Oroville and I was watching the like come up feet as I fished. Completely inundated a couple of the areas I was fishing. Oroville has quite a large watershed that feeds it. If they were to get a good "gully" washer in the "hills" the lake could come up the necessary distance in a hurry...that is if they would/could keep the water. My understanding is that the water is being passed through to support the watershed "below" the lake.

Hmmm...wonder what the Delta would be like if they corked all the reservoirs to fill them without the necessary rain fall to send some water down stream.

Obi

ps. Perhaps Sierra Nevada could do a beer drinking special and then you could have "yellow" rain storm to raise the lake a bit.

[Guest]

Hey Vince, didn't I sign up with you in a 100% Bass Pro/Am about 7 or 8 years ago. I think you lived in the south bay then.

Yeah that was me. I moved to Scottsdale, AZ about 1.5 years ago. I can tell you that you guys are going to find lake Roosevelt fishes just like Oroville with brush. I have a feeling that a lot of CA guys will do well there. Definitely worth the drive from CA for that event.

[Rick K of Ca]

Do not look for the lake to come up. At this time they are pumping water out of the delta at 4 1/2 times the total flow of the San Joaquin River, so the rest of the water has to come from the Sacramento river. The Oroville and Shasta lakes are were that water has to come from. With the massive pumping you may not see the lake come up much by summer. You know that the swimming pools in southern cal will stay full.

[biteme]

I think the question should be whats going to happen next year if they dont fill it now.

[Kevin]

Broken record playing off in the distance.................

[Fast 492]

Don Lee and Chris Jones were here at Oroville today and it sounds like it is going to be a go. We should know more in the next day or two!!! Patience will be a virtue....

[scottsweet]

I got an update today and assuming this information is complete and correct. Apparently, as we all heard, Chris met with Don at Oroville and the final word is to come out on Monday if this tournament is a go.

The Bidwell launch ramps are not completed as promised and won't be till some time in February. I guess what they are worried about is if it should rain, whether folks will be able to get off the lake in the mud and all at the Spillway launch area. Also, they are concerned about the parking areas and whether it will hold up if some heavy rains should show up.

We should all hear something on Monday some time after Charlie Evans has a chance to review the information with Chris.

Scott