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Oroville Lake and Reports

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Friday, August 3rd, 2018

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    Water Temp: 81.7 degrees, elevation 774.34

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Not a good morning on the water for me. To begin with, half way to the Lime Saddle ramp, realize I forgot my morning meds, which includes allergy meds, not going back so get launched about 5:30 am, and fish in the smoke haze. Didn't take long for my allergies to get going, feeling like crap but fished anyway. Funny, when one is not feeling well, hard to get into the hunt and catch fish. Only got 13 fish this morning, could not seem to find them at all, like the smoke seems to bother them too. Best fish right at 13 1/2". My last Friday fishing forever. Get back to the ramp at 9 am and it looks like a circus, boats sitting at the launch, yet no one launching. I call them weekend boater, no clue how to keep a ramp moving, like they are the only ones around!!! Took nearly 25 minutes to be able to get the boat off the water! Picture in fishing forum.

Wednesday, July 25th, 2018

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    Report: by Kennortonjr » Wed Jul 25, 2018 11:18 am

    My buddy and I fished out of lime saddle this morning (up the west branch) and we just had one fish between us. I am so used to fishing from the shore in Parrish cove/Nelson bar and still picking up tactics for deeper water and from a boat.... When you say you are catching them at 35-40 feet, is that on the bottom - or are they suspended at that depth and catching the bait on the fall? I suppose at that depth even a senko would need some added weight (either a drop shot or nail weight setup)?

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    Water Temp: 83.7 degrees, elevation ? site down.

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime Saddle right at 5:30 am, stopped fishing at 8:15 am, as it was getting darn hot, too hot for me! Typical hot summer bite. Lots of small fish to catch, larger fish tend to be few and hard to find. Picked up 17 fish, 2 best right at 14", if I stretched one got 14 1/4" !!!! Better fish caught deep, 35-40 foot range. Fished the Lime Saddle area, never went past Hwy 70 bridge. Water getting super warm, high 83.7 degrees. Not a good fishing temp!! Pictures in fishing forum.

Friday, July 20th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 82 degree range, elevation 789.32

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched right at 5:30 am, stopped fishing at 9:am as is was getting hot!! Nothing special day, other then just about any structure holds fish, all smaller for me today. Made about 5 stops and picked up 27 fish, all mostly all 12-13" size, and a few 10" dinks, actually all dinks today. Best fish right at 13". Water hot now, 82 degree range and calm as can be, no winds!! Pat attention to where the stick weeds are growing, right above high water line this year. They grow to 3-4 feet tall, loose the leaves, leaving sticks. When they go under water next year, they will hold fish well, always caught quality fish in the stick weeds. Mark your maps, mental notes, as the lake has lots of them growing this year. Got a picture for those that don't know about them. Pictures in fishing forum.

Thursday, July 12th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 79 degrees, elevation 796.54

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Good to be back on the lake, skipped last week due to the 4th crowds. Got launched about 5:30 am at Lime Saddle and found a decent bite at the end of the point, right under the gas dock, picking up 11 fish in about an hour. Best 2 fish of the day from this location, right at 14 1/2" and 14", all fish 28-35 feet of water. Moved on to the N. Fork and found schooling fish in 30 feet of water, with a giant boulder they were hanging on. This second stop gave up another 10-12 fish, one right after the other. Hit 2 more locations and ended up with 37 fish for the morning, before calling it a day at 9:15 am. About half the fish the 13-13 1/2" range, the other half the smaller 11-12" range runts. Overall, great trip and lots of action, even though no real big fish, so typical in the summer. Found a bear out for a swim on the way to N. Fork area. He or she was huffing and puffy while swimming, but made it to shore and off it went. Pictures in fishing forum.

Wednesday, June 27th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 77-78, elevation 806.80

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched early right at 5:30 am, stopped fishing at 9 am. Headed to the N. Fork and found many fish, but dam, all small buggers. Fish were plentiful, but all small as they come. Could not find anything over 13" today out of 19 fish caught. Might be the warm water 77-78 degrees. Looked deep, still nothing worth a photo, so in the way in, picked up a typical fish at hwy 70 bridge pilings and took a picture of the basic fish today. Fishing and catching these small ones makes me want to not fish, but will fish anyway. Water has cleared up a lot, from some of the areas that had or still has algae bloom. Cleaner water had the better fishing. Picture in fishing forum.

Tuesday, June 12th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 73-74, elevation 815.92

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched about 5:30 am at Lime Saddle and fished till 9:30 am. Tried the drop off again, not nearly as super as last trip, picked up just 8 fish, then went to N. Fork and got another 18 for 26 fish today. Size kind of sucked, just 2 14", with about half the rest 13- to just shy of 14", the other half 11-12" tiny ones. Surprised at how much algae is in the water, and so soon in the season. Some areas cloudy, with clump like algae, other areas clear as can be. Guess the algae is good for the hatch this year, as fry need food!! Water 73-74 range and with warmer water, so many runts along the shore line. Surprised again at how calm and no winds. Pictures in fishing forum.

Wednesday, June 6th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 73-74 degree range, elevation 818.10

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Like taking candy from kids. Got launched at about 5:40 am, stopped fishing about 9:40 am. Amazing fishing day. I fished the drop off again, that everyone that uses Lime Saddle should know about, but none every seem to fish it for some reason, like can't fish local, motor past one of the best locations around for some reason. So, I pretty much parked in a 30 foot section over the drop off at 35 feet, and caught 21 spots, one right after the other. This time they didn't get spooked so fast, fished the area for 2 hours straight, at first every cast a fish, then tapered off a tad, and a fish every two or three cast. Almost all the fish in the 13" to 14" range, with just a couple under 13" Drag almost any bait from the 25 foot depth, to go over the drop off at 35 feet and get bit. Hope the lake holds it's level a while, fishing this location every trip. After the bite stopped, went to the north fork and got another 10 fish, for 31 fish by 9:40 am, a couple small Smallies. Odd, no winds in the N. Fork, or hardly any. Best two fish right at 14", lost one that felt bigger. Pictures in fishing forum.

Friday, June 1st, 2018

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    Water Temp: 72, elevation 818.51

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got an early start, launched at 5:30 am, fished till 9:40 am. Water cooled a tad from the last rain, 72 degree range mostly. Fished basic Lime saddle and west branch for a change. Fish sure look off, skinny after spawn. Most fish caught 20-35 feet, best fish right at 35 feet. Caught just 22 spots, two best right at 14", and looking so thin. beginning to find large bait balls, and fish were right under them. Found one school on the top edge of a drop off, that gave up 7 fish, one right after the other, each cast. Kind of fishing I like. Eventually they get spooked and the bite drops off. Must have been some type of tournament, as 10-15 boats came to fish the west branch. Lake virtually stable for a week now, rare to find water level sticking within a foot for a week. Pictures in fishing forum.

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018

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    Water Temp: 73.9, elevation 821.21

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime Saddle about 5:35 am, stopped fishing at 9:15 am, didn't really feel good and gave up. Slow bite for me, think it's was just me, not feeling super. Only got 14 fish, all in the 13 13 1/2: size, and best right at 15" no 14" range. Bite seems to sour when your really not up to fishing. Dam winds had me frustrated and not feeling super, makes a crappy bite!! Water high temp I found 73.6, most 72.9 Water came down about a foot or fraction more over the last week. Saw tons of carp shallow, must be spawn time for them, groups of 6-8 fish hanging around the shore. Picture in fishing forum.

Tuesday, May 15th, 2018

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    Water Temp: high 70.3 degrees, high water mark for the year 824.11, down to elevation 822.80

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Could not sleep, so got an early launch at 5:30 am, fished to 9:30 am. Started trying to catch more crappie, but dam, no luck at all, fished about an hour, different lures, depths, you name it, nothing, so gave up and looked for spots. Picked up 28 spots today, avoiding any shallow fish as dinks are everywhere. Best fish today, right at 16", one 15" and a nice 14 3/4". Most all others were 13-13 1/2" and 4-5 10-12". Fish seem to all be skinny now, having spawned and no fat bellies with eggs. Water has hit the high mark at 824.11 on 5/11/18 and has been dropping now 1/10 to 3/10 of a foot every since, so lake fairly stable now along with the bite. Water hit the 70 degree mark, and will be warming every day now till we hit the 80 degree mark, maybe higher!!. Pictures in fishing forum.

Tuesday, May 8th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 67.7 to 68.6 degrees, elevation 824.11

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Short trip today, as the wife needs taken in for a blood draw, so only fished till 9am. Seemed slow bite for some reason, not nearly as good as last week. Tried a tad of crappie fishing with a marabou jig, and to my surprise, got one in 22 feet of water. Should have fished longer for them, but bass were calling me. Got one decent crappie is all, forgot to measure, but 15-16" is my guess. Think I'll devote my first hour to these slabs, and learn how it goes on this lake. Caught 19 fish this am, best spot right at 15", most the basic 13-13 1/2" and yes 2-3 dinks in the 10-12" size. See lots of dinks hanging around the shore line, 10 feet or so. Pictures in fishing forum.

Thursday, May 3rd, 2018

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    Water Temp: 61

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished the area near the houseboats ---walls, inside and outside the bridge and then across the lake towards the dam where there are floating camp sites --looking for a place out of the wind. Caught 15, all small running about 12". Talked with a park ranger and he said people were reporting small fish. Tom Growall did much better but I notice the water temperature on the part of the lake he fishes was a little warmer...but Tom is a good fisherman and he knows this lake. It was my first outing at Oroville this year. Caught mine away from the bank on a chartreuse grub and drop shotting. It is such a magnificent lake but how the wind can seemingly blow from 360 degrees!

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018

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    Report: by Joe daddy » Wed May 02, 2018 2:46 pm

    Found 66 degrees by 2:00pm. Over 20 fish a piece. Broke my old nasty line,(hook tie) on possible lunky.

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    Water Temp: 63.8, elevation 821.87

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got an early launch at 5.50 am, stopped fishing right at 9:50 am as the breeze began to pick up. Windy city on the water today, calmed about 9am for about an hour, then back breezy at 10 am. Water 63.8 as a high, and fish willing to bite. Picked up 28 spots, 3-4 dinks 10-11", but managed to get a nice 15 3/4" and 2 14", with all the rest basic 13-13 1/2" About 1/3 of the fish taken on the fall, rest finesse Carolina rig. Fish are schooling a little, so catch one, work the same location as more then likely more fishing waiting to bite. Water beginning to clear up a tad, much better then last week. Released all fish to grow bigger and catch again one day. Pictures in fishing forum.

Wednesday, April 25th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 63.4 degrees, elevation 816.44

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime Saddle, about 6:20 am, stopped fishing right at 10 am. Sure is nice launching now that the ramp owners clean wood on a regular basis. No issues now days, nothing like when they used to just let it stack up. Decent bite today, not quite killer bite but darn good. Picked up 31 fish today, but did work hard for them. Some fish as shallow as 10 foot and down to 35 feet. Most 20-30 foot. Water warmed lots over the last few days, found a high of 63.4 degrees, darn near hot. Water still a tad cloudy, but clearing lots since last week. Best fish today right at 15", 2 14 3/4", 3 14" and the rest decent 13-13 1/2" fish. Nothing less then 13" today. Should be great fishing from mow till next Dec. 4 -5 fish taken on the fall, so going to break out senko's next trip. Pictures in fishing forum.

Friday, April 20th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 56.6 to 57.8 degrees, elevation 811.82

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched at Lime Saddle about 6:20 am, stopped fishing about right at 10 am. Damn, windy city this am, hate those days as my small boat moves like a kite in the winds. Winds tapered off about 9 am or so. Bite picked up a tad, but water still cool, 56.6 to 57.8 degrees in my travels. Even though the water still not quite right, bit much better today. Picked up 23 spots, best at 16", 1 15", 3-4 14" with most all others 13-13 1/2", and looking slightly fat, getting ready to dump those eggs. Fish are moving in closer to the banks, got a few at 15 feet, most 20-35 feet. Wild guess, 2 more weeks and should get 30 plus fish in the morning. Pictures in fishing forum.

Saturday, April 14th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 57.5 to 85.3 degrees, elevation 806.12

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched at about 6:20 am, off the lake at 10 am, and to my surprise, 95% of the wood had been cleaned up and no issue at all launching, have never seen it this clean this time of year as the water comes up. Guess the dock owner decided to do his part and keep the ramp a tad safer then in the past. Water cooled over the last rains, found 57.5 to 58.3 in my travels. Kind of what I thought would happen with the rains last week. Bite slowed a tad too, had to work hard and got 11 spots, all 13-13 1/2" range, nothing larger today. Most taken 20 to 35 feet. Water got messed up, cloudy everyplace I went. Bottom line, the super bite is still another 2-3 weeks out is my guess. Picture is typical of all my fish today. Picture in fishing forum.

Wednesday, April 4th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 57-58.3 degrees, elevation 794.30

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched right about 6:30 am, stopped fishing at 9:45 am. Good news, water is warming up and almost getting to the full on bite. Found 57 to 58.3 degrees and the fish are beginning to come back from where ever they go during the winter. Picked up 12 spots, first fish 1 decent 14", two in a row right at 15", two 14" and the rest solid 13-13 1/2" Had to work hard for them, my best bite this year. 2-3 more weeks and full on bite. Water looking good too, clearing up from the last rains. Guessing this next rain will muddy it back up and slow the warming a fraction.Most fish taken from 25-35 feet. Last picture is the typical of this trip, first two, the 15" fish. Pictures in fishing forum.

Thursday, March 29th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 53.8 to 54.8 degrees, water level 788.55

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched at Lime Saddle about 6:45 am, wood, lots of wood stacked up on the ramp as it always gets when water levels come up. Damn, hate that stuff, worst part is getting off the water!! and not taking home a cord with the boat. Slow, slow bite, good part, water is beginning to warm. Found 53.6 to 54.8 degrees in my travels. about 4-4.5 degree rise since my last trip. Picked up 4 spots, best right at 15", and a surprise coho, small one. Never caught one before, teeth surprised me. Didn't know how to hold them, for sure not like a bass. Water dingy from all the rains. Most fish caught at 30-35 feet or so. Guessing about the mid to end of April, bite will be wide open, it's coming, so be patient. Pictures in fishing forum.