Oroville Lake and Reports

Monday, October 11th, 2010

• By John T.

  Water Temp: 69

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: My son and I fished all day with 20+ caught by him and 7 by me. I have to say he is the better fisherman. Drop shotting a variety of worms and some top water. did the trick.I love this lake and would fish it even with my low count of 7. It does get tiring watching someone pull in fish after fish ,but it keeps you trying different methods.
  City: San Jose

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

• By Great northern angler

  Water Temp: 82

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: The bite is very tough!!! I fished for 6hrs today and only boated three fish and nothing over 15" and two I caught were the same sixe as my crank bait and one about 12". Fished Middle fork, south fork, and main body. The only three fish I caught where suspended fish that took a crank bait over 30' of water. I tried darter heads, tubes, drop shot, you name it. I have had some rough days out on this lake, but I thought I was gonna get the skunk. Lucky for me I got the smell off my back about 15min before I left.

  Tips: Find another lake to fish until the bite gets better.

Monday, September 6th, 2010

• By Larry Hemphill

  Water Temp: 74-78

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: I guided 2 great guys yesterday for about 7 hrs - teaching them some good areas to fish and techniques that we use at Oroville. This was their first visit to this wonderful lake. You wouldn't know it was Labor Day weekend - until about 9 am! Then I taught them how to dodge wake-board boats, har!!! They mostly wanted to drop-shot Robo worms and they did catch several - one close to 15 inches. We fished the middle and south forks. I made the catch of the day - a 4 inch largemouth on a 3/4 oz Duh! spoon - in 20 feet of water. Yes, he/she are it!! They caught some as shallow as 10 feet - probably because there seemed to be an algae bloom in some areas, along with mud lines. Not a wait at all taking the Ranger out at the dam at 2 pm!
  City: Yuba City

  Tips: Can't say much that isn't already known - the lake is dropping fast and most fish are off-shore. One will have to hunt for quality bass for another month - then things should get better.

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

• By AllMovin

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: Spent less than an hour fising this past weekend while boating with the family. Pretty easy bite on drop shot at about 20 feet.
  City: Danville

  Tips: Target rock piles at 20 feet. Easy bite. Oxblood with red flake

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

• By Dennis Webb

  Water Temp: 75

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: Hadn't been out since before the 4th of July and thought most of the vacationers would be gone what with school starting and all, but the parking lot was better than half full when I got there at 6:30 A.M. My plan was to fish walls, moving water and shade and I thought I would find all in the North Fork so thats where I went. With the water dropping the way it is I thought the fish would just move up or down as opposed to out. After messing with a top water bait for awhile with no luck I changed to a senko and had some fish bite but not commit to eating it. I switched again to a Reaction Innovations worm in the "Spring Break" color and after missing a half dozen (rusty) I managed to boat 4 in the slot. The shade soon disappeared and the nice breeze I had across the water left as well. I left soon after.
  City: Paradise

  Tips: The best bite (if you can call it that) was on the dirt walls as opposed to the rock walls. The smaller baits in lighter colors worked best for me. The cooler weather forcast for this next weekend should make it easier on the angler but not necessarily on the fish. The ramp at Lime Saddle should still be good for another couple of weeks at best. I hope to be out there. Good Luck

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

• By captjack

  Water Temp: 76-81

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: CATCHING was not at Oroville this weekend for the NorCal Bass Ratz. The Juniors had a tough time on Sunday with no slot fish. Most cought were under and a few over the slot. Best bait to use is a drop shot Robo Sexy Chad worm in 25 to 50 ft. Jigs, Lizards and WHAT ever.
  City: Rocklin

  Tips: Godd luck.

Friday, August 6th, 2010

• By J

  Water Temp: 78-80

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: OUCH! That's why it's called "fishing" and not "catching." Three of us in the boat caught 8 fish. One in the slot and 7 around 9"-10". Split shot and darter heads caught the fish. Shad colored plastics. We found the fish in our usual spots between at 35

  Tips: Try a drop shot and stay in the same spot longer. We were moving slow but we should have gone even slower. We didn

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

• By Gary

  Water Temp: 79-82

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: Very late start, on the water about 2 and off by 730.. Drop shot and texas pulled no fish. Lots of fish in 25+ feet rocky areas but to much sun on the water. Tried for reaction bite early evening still not producing..
  
  Note: Novice Fisher, could use some tips.. Thanks
  City: Rocklin

  Tips: Fish early!!

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

• By Aaron Britt

  Water Temp: 79-81

  Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

  Report: Well finally got out for a night trip on the infamous Oroville lake last night. Got on the water around 745-8ish. Began throwing topwater on submerged island tops in the main body with no luck at all. Started scoping fish on the humminbird all in about 15-25 feet of water, then began pitching dropshots and picked up around 5 fish all in the 2 pound range with a few under. The moon decided to come out about 10:30 or so, and really lit up the entire lake! I believe the night before was the actual full moon, which dwindled my hopes of haveing an amazing night due to them gorging the night prior. Once the moon came up we shot up the north arm to find big boulder type rocks which offered shade due to the moon light. Right around 12:30 or so after being in the north arm with not much luck at all, I pick up my 1/2 ounce football head jig equiped with a black and blue hoola grub and casted it about 5 feet from the bank, hopped it twice and BANG! Textbook jig bite, I set the hook and knew if was heavy right off the bat! It came immedietly to the surface and wehn it rolled myself and the 2 others on the boat KNEW it was big! We scrambled for the net, and it came up one more time just to spit my jig out of its mouth! The bottom line was it acted just like a big largemouth that you hook somewhere like the delta, clearlake,etc. You know on this lake in general you dont here to many fish(Spotted, or largemouth) being caught over 5 or 6 pounds here, but this fish was every bit of 7 plus at least! Overall, not the best trip ive had there fishing at night, i believe we boated 9 or 10 fish with a few under on dropshots. We also missed WAY to many bites! All out bites and fish came on spider grubs, beavers, and dropshot.
  City: Yuba City

  Tips: The fish were very aggressive when hitting the baits, only 1 or 2 fish were dead weight, everything else was wam! You knew they hit it. We used all dark colors which is a must when fishing night time. Fish came between 15-30 feet all night! Go fish that full moon and you will have an oppurtunity to catch a fish of a liftime on any lake. I just missed mine last night on Oroville! BUMMER

Monday, July 12th, 2010

• By Larry Hemphill

  Water Temp: 79-83

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: This is the year of the "grandpa!" I had another grandpa/grandson (13) trip last night - a little tough on a Sunday night with all the weekend traffic on the water. The boy became a good caster thru the trip and missed a couple of bites. Grandpa missed quite a few until about 1 am when he was 5 for 7 with 2 "overs" - one at 17 inches. I hooked one "over" and a few others before dark which I let the boy land. Though the fishing was overall surprisingly slow, the quality was excellent with only one dink (12 inches) in our catch. We used Robo worms before dark and 7" junebug Berkely Power worms after dark. Very few bass shallow - which they usually are in the dark of the moon. Most were caught 15 to 30 feet.
  City: Yuba City

  Tips: After discussing the slow bite with grandpa during the night, I came to the conclusion that the bass may not have had the need to move shallow since there was so much weed growth cover at the 10 to 30 foot depth. That is not normal for Oroville except after several low water years. Several of our bass were caught ticking the weeds. I have to mention - stunningly beautiful night in the north fork - not a hint of a breeze. Quite dark of course. Once we got close to the dam - the east wind was howling as it does during a heat spell. Big waves! Getting the boat out was a challenge!!!

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

• By Bassenjack

  Water Temp: 82

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: Took the family out tuesday evening. Was fun for everyone. The fish were in the flooded brush in 7 to 15ft most were 13 and 14" some were smaller. My daughter had 5 in about 5 minuets. we fished from 7 to about 8:30. All fish were caught on bluegill grubs on 1/8th and 1/16th dart heads. The best places for us were sloping mud banks on the main lake. Fun stuff.
  City: San Jose

  Tips: 1/8 and 1/16th oz dart heads bluegill 4" grubs worked for us.

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

• By Larry Hemphill

  Water Temp: 73-75

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: Fun trip today from 6:45 am to 11 am with a grandpa and his 9 and 11 year old grandsons - the boys first fishing trip. We fished the middle and south forks - the south fork provided a breeze which helped the bite. We taught the kids how to cast and work a split-shot and drop-shot rig. The summer pattern is here! Lots of small spots but the 9 yr old did get one at 15 1/8 inches. We just used 6" Robo worms - sometimes biting them off to 5 inches. That offers a little more bulk than the 4 1/2 inch worms. The best color near the end of the trip was Sexy Shad. Bass were spitting up lots of bait. The colors I have mentioned in previous reports were still working also. We caught them as deep as 35 feet. Nothing too shallow. I'm sure Senkos in the flooded brush would be a killer also!
  City: Yuba City

  Tips: I would work bigger baits for bigger fish now. First and last light will be the ticket for a few months now.

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

• By Mark

  Water Temp: 70+

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: Lake starting to drop a little each day, went out of Lime Saddle, over cast, lite breeze, started fishing the steep rock faces all alone the houseboats to the 70 bridge, got a few, fish were biteing lite and if you didn't act fast they were off. Fish were around the 20 foot range some 15 or so. Most areas we fished had clouds of minnows, from 1/8th to 1/4 inch, literly thouands, bass were feeding heavely on them, most bass we caught were pucking up minnows. Moved down below 70 bridge and fished steep rocky banks without veggetation on them, these areas seem to be the best. 5 and 4 inch senkos on a 1/4 oz. leadhead wacky style worked real well, the best color was greenpumkin, and other greens worked well also. Sweetbeavers in babybass,and green with purple flake were hot also, 4" Mojave Oxblood was a good bet. Fished all the way to the north fork and down about a mile, fish were spotty but did well alday, 5 over to 17", 5 under, and about 20 plus in the slot, fish were fat with minnows and crawdads.
  City: Orland

  Tips: We fished everything with 1/4 oz. leadhead to get it down to the 20' range, some fish came on the fall but most were right on the bottom. Some hit and ran, agin most were lite with pressure, had to act fast. Saw some bass on beds, water was real clear, could see 10+ ft.most of the time. Fishing is still great, check out the mud lines after the boat traffic picks up, picked up a 2lbs. catfish and 2lb.COHO on senkos also. Color was not a big factor, most worked, but then agin the ones mentioned above did the best.

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

• By Larry Hemphill

  Water Temp: 71-73

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: Since I just did a report, I will make this brief. Another half-day guide trip with two anglers that have done a little bass fishing. I thought drop-shotting would work well for them and it did for the most part. We had cloud cover early and I thought it would help the bite, but the spots were a little lethargic this morning. You would set the hook and they had already spit the worm. Weird. One of the fellows did catch one over the slot - barely - his first one of the day. We just fished the main body and a little of the middle fork. We just used 6" Robo worms and morning dawn w/ chartreuse tail was again the winner! Green craw was second place. Salt & pepper w/ chartreuse is starting to work also. Fish were deeper on a cloudy morning - go figure!
  City: Yuba City

  Tips: Maybe because of the lack of much hot weather, the lake is VERY clear - at least in the areas I have guided lately. Visibility is well over 10 feet! Finally saw some bluegill today - along with another small largemouth - and some BIG carp! They are lovin' all the underwater weedbeds! The slower bite could be blamed on the clear water with a totally flat lake - not a breath of wind!!

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

• By Larry Hemphill

  Water Temp: 69-73

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: I think summer has finally hit Lake Oroville! Lots of small bass 9 to 12 inches starting to show. I guided a couple of great people yesterday morning - a guy and gal who wanted to learn more about bass fishing, not having been too successful on their previous trips. Learn they did - and catch they did too!! As we started out from the dam, I made a sudden turn to the left to a spot that now looked good with the higher water. I love instinctive impulses - when they work! His first bass on a green craw Robo worm was a 16 1/2" spot. Nice! We continued to work the main body during rather tough conditions - clear water and no breeze, catching a few in shadows! We moved to the middle fork as the breeze - then wind- picked up - and so did the bite. I was so happy for the nice lady - she landed 3 bass and lost several. She was excited! He did very well with 8 or so in the boat. I tried to keep up with the best color "of the hour" - switching Robo colors for them as conditions changed. I caught 12 or 13 also, including 2 barely over the slot. I was happy for the very willing bass - I know my clients had lots of fun and said they learned a lot.
  City: Yuba City

  Tips: At 76% capacity. Lake Oroville it starting to look like her 'ol self - until you get next to the bank and look up. Still a ways to go! I worked with them on split-shotting techniques to get them going, then I tried to see if drop-shotting was happening. It was!! Retied their rigs for dropshotting and that was the answer for the morning. Lots of action. It was interesting to me that there was no surface action what-so-ever until one fished rolled at 11 am. No bird action - just quiet out there. Out action came on hard-pan banks at about the 10 to 30 foot depth. Morning Dawn w/chartreuse tail was again good along with green pumpkin and Aaron's Magic w/ R&B flake.

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

• By Mike

  Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

  Report: Hey Don P, thanks for the info, we spent a great four days at the lake and cought in the dozens of fish, the second night was the best senkos did ok but the real bite came from dark red and dark blue tubes. The bit was on from before sundown untile the sun came up the next morning. And yea we released them all. Thanks again. And by the way the most active area for this trip came from going past the green bridge, hooking a hard left and down about a mile or so around the corner.

Friday, June 11th, 2010

• By DonP

  Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

  Report: Tips for Mike: Go under the green bridge and stay to the right for about a mile or two. This puts you in the South Fork. Look for sloping dirt banks and points with rock outcrops into the water. I like the left side. Stay casting distance from the bank.
  
  For bait use dark green/brown 4" or 5" Senkos with an octopus hook ran through the center of the bait. This is called "Wacky Style". It is helpful to add a very small split shot about 10" above the hook in order for the senko to fall slowly to the bottom. Once on the bottom lift/reel very slowly back to the boat. Often the senko gets bit before it hits the bottom so watch your line! If you lift and feel weight SET THE HOOK. There are a lot of ways to catch fish at Lake Oroville. This method give you and your family a good chance of catching some fish.
  City: Orovillle

  Tips: Stop in at Oroville Outdoors on Feather River Blvd (first left off the Oro Dam Exit).
  They will get you pointed in the right direction.
  Be sure to put a few fish back for the rest of us!

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

• By mike

  Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

  Report: can anyone give me a few good tips for bass fishing, Im taking the woman, dog and boat camping for the week and would like to make the most of it fishing wise, any help on what part of lakes to fish would be great, also love to night fish, thanks!!

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

• By Larry Hemphill

  Water Temp: 64-67

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: Was I crazy to agree to guide a grandpa, his son, and his 4 yr old granddaughter and 6 yr old grandson - 2 days after the Memorial Day holiday? I thought so - but I was up to the task - I hoped!! Great family! So, off we went from the dam on the somewhat crowded Ranger 520! We had three Loomis rods rigged with 4" Robo worms and started on the east side of the main body. Water was nice and clean with very little floating wood. Dad got a bite on the first cast but luckily, missed it! No Jinx this time! He soon caught an 8" smallmouth - rare these days. I was working with the boy - yes, his name is "FINN" - helping him with casting and retrieving a worm. I had a bite and set the hook. Wow - good fish - handing it to Finn and hoped he could handle it. He did very well and soon put a 16" spot in the boat. That was the beginning of an amazing 4 hours. Dad and the kids landed 4 more spots at 15 1/4, 16 1/2, 16 7/8, and 17 3/8 inches - 5 over the slot! They hooked and landed them all except for the first one that I handed off to Finn. They landed around 15 to 17 bass - including a LARGEMOUTH in the middle fork! We saw another largemouth also. After the kids discovered my worm box and explored that for the last hour, I taught the "men" how to drop-shot and they landed some (including the biggest spot) and missed some. Lots of smiles during the trip and the boat rides were a highlight - especially for Finn! He was hoping we could go 80 MPH! I told him not to dare tell his mother how fast we did go!!!
  City: Yuba City

  Tips: The first "over 15" that Finn and I shared was caught on a MMIII 4" Robo worm. The other 4 "overs" were all caught on a morning dawn w/ chartreuse tail 4" Robos. A few were caught on Aarons Magic colors. Clay banks with chunk rock were our best areas. The bass were from 5 to 25 feet. The lake is flooding grass now - a beautiful sight to see. It is about 70+ percent full. Because of the limited time and learning curve, we only used Robo worms. That's all you need at Oroville. I guess the bigger bass figured it was safe to eat since the holiday was over. You just never know what will happen when you leave the dock!!

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

• By John T

  Water Temp: 64

  Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

  Report: Fished the lake 2 days for 100 spotted bass. Unbelievable bite!!Most caught on drop-shot.Even had a salmon and largemouth take the robo-worm