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Oroville Lake and Reports

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Wednesday, Dec 6
Hi: 53 ° F
Lo: 38 ° F
Today
Rain Showers
Precip: 98%
Tonight
Rain Showers
Precip: 97%

Friday, September 1st, 2023

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    Water Temp: 73/74

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: We fished Oroville yesterday and it was great to see the lake this full for this time of year. Wind blew and cloudy almost all day. Marked bait fish all over the place, mostly in the 15 to 25 ft depth range, everywhere we went. Bites were almost non existent but we did put three fish in the boat. Best was 16". Texas rigs, darter head rigs, ned rigs, drop shot, crawdad imitators, Kieteks, whacky senko's - - - - - ! We were glad to be on the water but the fishing sucked.

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023

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    Report: by basstrophy » Wed Feb 22, 2023 9:34 pm

    Yak-a-Bass event had 120 anglers sign up for the season opener at Lake Oroville. The weather was cold with air temperatures ranging from 30 to 65 degrees, water temperatures were chilly 45 to 48 degrees. The fish were schooled up in specific locations and if an angler found that magical spot they were rewarded with the Motherlode. When the lines were out, and all the fish were submitted, Joseph Tax had found the motherlode with 76.25” beating second place by 1.5”. Tax launched out of Bidwell and headed to the Middle fork. The wind was blowing straight in his path with 3-foot waves crashing over his bow. Tax stated Oroville Lake was like a scene from the Deadliest Catch, “it was terrifying.” His kayak took on water and he had to stop twice to bilge the water out. Tax caught his fish using a drop-shop rigged with a 2.8” Keitech. His key presentation was to slowly move the rig in 70 feet of water right in the middle of the creek. The action was just to lift slightly and let the bait naturally swim back to the bottom, then lift again and a fish would bite. Most of his larger fish came in 70 feet of water but several of his 15-inch fish came in 50 to 60 feet of water. The Western Grebes were present in his Motherlode location, he noticed that the birds were eating shad the same size as the 2.8 Keitech. He knew that bait was present, giving him the confidence to work the area over. Tax stated that he caught around 65 fish in that single area. Because of the “terrifying” boat ride to his location, he felt it was best to stay. Tax thanked P-Line, Keitech, Owner Hooks, Powel Rods, Daiwa, and his biggest supporter, his wife.

    Danny Miller finished in second place with 74.75”. Launching from Loafer Creek and making an hour-long run to the Middle Fork where he had found quality size fish during his practice fishing. He focused on long clay points; his lures of choice were a swimbait and drop-shot. Making a run to a small cut with a feeder creek, Miller spent the rest of his time there culling fish. Miller showed his gratitude to James Snyder, Bill Bukowatz, Ron Lewis, Mike Lavoie, York Sell and a special thanks to his wife Kelly and the good lord above who is always with us.

    Mike Ensign finished third with 74.25” Launching from Lime Saddle ramp. Ensign traveled over 14 miles total during his day. After fishing a jig with no bites and the wind picking up, he made an adjustment that proved to push him to the top three. Ensign adjustment was to target windy main lake points with a Dark Horse A-Rig. He fished the A- rig in 25 feet of water ticking the bottom while going with the wind. Ensign sponsors are I-rod, Bioenno batteries, Dark Horse Baits, Gama Fishing Line, and NewPort Motors.

Saturday, August 13th, 2022

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    Report: by LookoutRanch » Fri Aug 12, 2022 1:09 pm

    Catching fish won’t be an issue. Most finesse the techniques are easy to have 30+ fish days. Graph before dropping lines, bait is everywhere.

Saturday, January 8th, 2022

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    Report: by Rmats » Sat Jan 08, 2022 4:54 pm
    First time fishing Lake Oroville. Found a decent jig bite and caught quite a few on a brown purple 1/2oz football jig with a green pumpkin rage chunk trailer!

Sunday, October 24th, 2021

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    Report: by Pat » Sun Oct 24, 2021 7:16 am

    This will definitely put some water in our Lakes. Oroville has come up 2 feet since Friday, and this major storm is still coming. They just opened a low-low-low water gravel ramp at the Oroville spillway. With this storm, the possibility exists that the water will raise enough that it will not be usable. The problem since August has been the water level had this old gravel haul road on a flat area that did not have enough slope for launching. Let's hope it rises enough to get past this flat stretch. The few people that have gotten on the lake have reported that fishing is off the hook. Fish have not see a lure in months! And it is time for the fall feed.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2020

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    Report: by Joe daddy » Thu Oct 22, 2020 3:55 am

    Went out yesterday with Cotton and Big John. They crushed it. Catching fish all around me. The drop shot rig definitely produced more bites for Cotton. A number of fish on the reel in on that rig also. We did dabble into the cranking some, heard it’s been hot. Not much luck with that but we are no crankster gangsters by any means. Gave it up pretty quick. I finally managed to find a nice one around 3:00. Missed what felt like a large mouth bite around 10:30 on best point we came across...good day of fishing, happy to get back on the water.

Tuesday, May 26th, 2020

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    Report: by Joe daddy » Tue May 26, 2020 4:05 am

    So just been laying low lately. Some how I got my hands on a picture worthy fish from oroville awhile back. I believe enough time has passed so I’m going to post it.
    The fishing story-
    So, jitterbug and I were out beating the banks up like we do. On our way back up we run into a guy with his girlfriend walking down the ramp. We start b s ing with them and dude is like ‘yeah my buddy caught an 8 pounder the other day.’ So we were like ‘oh that’s cool take it easy’ and proceeded on our walk up. After that of course we were joking back and forth yeah I caught a 5 pounder, yeah I had a 6 pounder on but she broke me off.
    So, the next day by chance jb runs into one of his old high school buddys. They shortly got to talking about fishing when jbs buddy says one of the kids he coaches caught an 8 pounder at oroville and sent him this picture.
    All this transpired in early April.

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

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    Report: by Joe daddy » Wed Mar 04, 2020 6:02 am

    ...man guys it was beautiful out there. The hottest day or the year and a 12 mph northwest wind, sign me up. Had 3 bites, missed the first bite on point, based on poor knot tying, good hook set though. :roll: Just one of those days where everything just looked amazing. Could of lived in that moment forever, very special. I’m assuming the bite should just get better here on in. Some fish are up and aggressive.

Friday, February 7th, 2020

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    Report: by Joe daddy » Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:32 am

    Jittterbug and I again, one fish on rock wall next to bank. Running water in the cove with deep water access. Pretty slow, glassy water, only that bite. I’m sure more wind would of helped. Just nice to get out.(In one of the pics you can see where the hook set was in the right side of its mouth)

Friday, January 24th, 2020

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    Water Temp: 50-51 degrees

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Oroville Friday with Rick J. caught 20+ in the slot area and Forman Creek area. All fish were caught on dropshot with wacky rigged prism shad. No size fish ranged 1.25 to 1.75. Fish were caught from 20 to 55 ft.

    Tips: Find steeper rock walls and bait . Bait is stuck in the bottom and varied from 1' to as much as 8' thick. Fish slow!

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    Water Temp: 49

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I had the itch to fish Oroville today for my first trip of the year. I satisfied my itch but did not catch any fish. I had one bite all day and missed it. My buddy got two bites and missed one and caught the second, which was about a 5 lb Channel Catfish. Fished glide baits, small swim baits, jigs, ned rig, lipless cranks. Fished a few points around the main lake, Potters Ravine, and up the middle fork. We did find some fish, mostly in 20 to 25 foot range but just could not get them to bite. Water is very clear.

    Tips: Sorry, I can't give any tips here but I could sure use some. Bass Union makes it look so easy. Maybe I should invest in some of his jigs.

Monday, December 16th, 2019

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    Report: Lake Oroville 12-16-19
    Unread postby Joe daddy » Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:42 am

    Water has came up a tad bit. Bite was about the same maybe a little slower/colder. Got-eem, went 3-3, jitterbug 3-4. This spot like the gift that keeps on giving. Marry X-Mas.

Wednesday, November 20th, 2019

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    Report: by Inland fisheries advocate » Wed Nov 20, 2019 6:03 pm

    Grest day on Oroville. It was gusty winds, but we found some protected coves up the middle fork. Fish were in 15 to 35. Nice fat healthy fish.
    Used minnows, but I'm sure they would take senkos. Lots of fidh in back of coves around rocks & downed trees

Saturday, November 16th, 2019

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    Report: Lake Oroville bass by Inland fisheries advocate » Sat Nov 16, 2019 8:45 am

    Fished the the Big O Thursday. Middle fork rock piles & coves. Fished with minnows. Caught 12-15 fish. All really fat & spitting out pond smelt. Mostly in 15 to 30 feet. Going to try plastics next time, minnows were $20+/dozen... ouch.... time to enjoy this fishery

Sunday, November 3rd, 2019

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    Report: by Pat » Sun Nov 03, 2019 4:46 pm

    Yes, the fishing has been pretty good. Target bait fish, if you don't see bait on your graph, keep moving. Not saying you won't catch any if you don't see bait, but it definitely improves your chances. We have been catching fish from right on the bank out to about 30 feet. Water has been falling about a foot a day.

Friday, September 13th, 2019

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    Water Temp: 74-78

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Kayak fishing for spots at lake Oroville launched at String Town ramp at 6am, fished until 11am, 22 fish, most in the 15” to 17” range with one 18” to 20”. Most of the fish in 40’ to 45’ range a few in the 30’. Submerged rock piles and islands seem the be the best bet. Friday was a great day only saw one boat on the south fork. See fishing forum for pictures.

Thursday, July 4th, 2019

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    Report: by Joe daddy » Thu Jul 04, 2019 2:46 am

    It’s been a tough week for me on the lake. Oh, I been fishing just not catching. So I got my sorry butt off the couch to utilize the last 2 hours of daylight. Glad I did. Fished the main body point before the bridge on the left (hobo-spot). With all the boats on the water banks finally looked like they had the right color stain to my eye. So the more the merrier. Had 3 bites, caught 2 that would keep. Felt like lunkers :lol:
    Notes: post spawn, find structure, cooler water, evening bite has been good. This is what I noticed in the past week. *happy 4th*

Sunday, May 26th, 2019

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    Report: by Pat » Sun May 26, 2019 10:15 am

    And, the fishing at Lake Oroville is great right now. Not unusual for a pair of anglers to catch 100 in a day. There will be some dinks in the lot, but a lot of solid 14-16" fish too. They are fat and strong. The recent cold snap slowed things down for reaction and topwater, but small plastics in the top 15 feet of water will get bites all over the lake. I even caught a 4 pound kamikaze king salmon while reeling up my Ned rig on Friday. Would be a great time to take kids out.

Monday, May 13th, 2019

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    Water Temp: 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I think the spawn is mostly over , the bite was good . Launched from lime saddle for the first time ever . fished the north arm from Berry creek to the edge of the main body . Fished mainly senkos the first three hours and we caught about fifty . then switched to Keitecs and did well all those . Blades were working as well . We ended up with 90 bass , almost all were spots . best 5 was probably 9.5 lbs . We had a few that were 2 lbs and a lot that were close . Had a lot of fun catching all day long . we were there about 7 hours .

    Tips: Mud lines were the ticket for the Keitec . senkos anywhere seemed to work , all weightless and wacky .

Monday, April 8th, 2019

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    Report: by Inland fisheries advocate » Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:38 am

    I miss Tom's weekly reports on Oroville so here is mine for Sunday. Fished about 4hrs. Caught about 12 bass, mostly on wacky senkos & drop shot white paddle tale grub. Mostly in back of coves & some rocky walls..

    Not on fire..but water clarity is decent... nelsen