Submit
Report

Oroville Lake and Reports

Limit:
Click for interactive map

Saturday, May 16th, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 69 -71

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Started in the South Fork at 7:00 am and stuck 2 within 50 yds on big rocks, then struggled for 2 hrs. Saw a lot of bass boats moving a-lot most stopped on grass area between small rock area's, so started to fish these area's and picked up 6 or 7 more all slot fish.
    City: Sac

    Tips: Have fun and do your best.

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 59-65

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Thurs, Friday and Sat. were all a bit different and I always say that. With the lake coming up 10 ft. last weekend and 3 ft. during the week, I found the bass had spread out quite a bit and are slowly coming back to the banks and points. I had two sets of great clients out Thurs. and Fri. and they all did really well but we had to find the bass. A lot of them were deep and suspended, some came off walls a few off pionts. Mud lines also provided some nice bass. Howerer the best over all pattern came from senko's in several colors. From walls to coves, senko's produced some nice over bracket bass and some large mouth as well up to 3 lbs. This next week should turn on the top water bite as the lake stableizes after last weeks storm. There should be pleny of activity on the lake all week as the Stren Series Pro-Am and the College Tournament are getting ready for their up coming tournaments.
    City: Paradise

    Tips: The fishing should get better each day this week and almost anything should work.

  • By

    Water Temp: 62

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished early w tube jigs and dartheaded roboworms in the west branch and north fork. Best bite was deep and slow with a brown tube. Prominent points were dead, with the better action coming from rockbeds and minor points in the AM. Tried to eat lunch in a rocky cove, but a red hot senko bite (6 fish over the slot in 6 casts)kept the cooler unopened. Fished til 2 for 30+ and called it a good day.
    City: paradise

    Tips: Keep moving and offer different presentations. My buddy found the slow and deep bite early, I found the senko bite at noon. Most of my trips have uncovered a good bite, but at different spots than the previous trip.

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 58

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Main body is MUDDY again after this late rain. Ran up the fork and its MUCH better! Weather had me a bit off today. Forecast said 82 with no rain. Had rain on and off. Got only a couple on a Jig. Then I swapped to a robo worm. Man was it on until I ran out the that color! Boated close to 40. Best five went close to 10lbs. Just couldnt find the big ones. Tossed swimbaits for notta! Not one blow up on top water. My guess is by the weekend it will be on like donkey kong.
    City: Citrus Heights

    Tips: Find a point, cast, let sit and HOLD on! These spots can fight!

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 61

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I fished the Chico Bass Club tournament on Saturday and just wanted to compliment the club on putting on another wonderful tournament. I couldn't stay till the end but 13 plus won it with big fish over 4 pounds and at least 80 boats if not more. We caught a bunch of fish but only managed a shade over 9 pounds. I think we got bit on just about everything we used. Hey take a kid fishing now specially if they have a short attention span. Looking forward now to the Stren tournament in a few weeks.
    City: Paradise

    Tips: Tubes, senkos, worms, even got tapped on a swim bait. Get out and enjoy it before they pull the plug.

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 65 to 72

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: A couple hundred fish per day. Unbelievable lake. Excellent fishing all day long. Catchem on everything - from worms to crankbaits to spinnerbaits to topwater.
    City: Oroville

    Tips: Start fishing. Cast to the bank and retrieve lure as intended. Catch a fish, repeat. :)

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 58-67

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I took out a wonderful seasoned fisherman that had not yet caught a spotted bass is fishing career today. We started out in the West Branch moved into the main body and a bit into the North Fork. We had a great day. It was nice to here him say "you can't beat catching fish as soon as you start till it's time to stop fishing"
    City: Paradise

    Tips: bites came on worms, tubes ,spinner baits, and jigs

Friday, April 17th, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 54-60

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I took a couple of great guys out Friday. They wanted to learn some techniques on the spring bite. We fished points and shallows and they did quite well. For a half day and around 20 bass, they had 3 over. We covered shacky head worming, tubeing and jigs and when and where to use them. It was a great day.
    City: Paradise

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 57-60

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I had a very nice trip Saturday with two guys sort of new to bass fishing. After a cold weather week, I suggested we start at noon and fish 'til dark so the water might warm a degree or two. That seemed to work pretty well - as bass boats were leaving in the afternoon - the bite was improving. We did find 60.1 degree water at 5 pm! They each brought a rod for me to check out. I quickly put a G. Loomis 782 in their hands and they learned to love a quality bass rod very quickly!! They started out missing a lot of fish because of the timid bite and lack of experience but soon were landing several - maybe 10 total and each had one over the slot. I showed them most of the popular bass bait and how to work them. Their favorite was the MMIII Robo worm - most of their action was on that one - 4 and 6 inch. Often I will have my clients use a 6 inch Robo bitten down to a 5" - more bulk. I tried several colors of Robos and also found MMIII was the best for the day. I caught 2 over the slot (16"), one a #301 Senko and the other on a white/chartreuse D&M Piranha swim jig. I thought the overall quality was good considering the weather - they had several around 14 1/2 inches. We stayed in the south fork for the whole trip.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: One of the clients "overs" was a 15 1/8" hybrid - looking more like a smallie than anything I have seen in the south fork for years. It was really fun reliving and rediscovering structure I haven't seen in ages. Fun looking at favorite areas that are 100 ft over your head too. The water level is not so fun, however! We fished flats near deep water breaks and did find a few bass that had moved to the top of creek channels late in the afternoon. Not many however. One point would have nothing and the next would provide two or three bites. As I was leaving the ramp about 9 pm, two guys showed me their giant crappie - they had no scale. I weighed it for them. Wow - 2 lbs 14 oz!! I assume that is big for Oroville. Must have been a Clear Lake transplant!!!

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 54-60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got a late start at 9am, but ripped a nice 2 lb in the shade. No more bites so I switched to a soft jerkbait and managed 4 more before the shade left. Kinda struggled but spinnerbaited a few in the southern part of the lake including 2 more over 15's. The lake was colder than I thought it might be and was slow to warm up during the day. Split shot several and my buddy spinnerbaited a crappie of almost 2 lbs. His PB crappie so he was happy. We finished the day w/15 fish, 3 overs. Met Larry Hemphill later in the pm and he and his folks only had a couple. I'd say this weekend and next week will be off the hook. I did see a couple of cruisers in the backs of some protected areas, but they were not willing to play.
    City: Yuba City

  • By

    Water Temp: 52-59

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: After fishing the last couple of weeks with good numbers and some nice sizes of bass over 2+ to 3lbs and some very happy clients, Saturday the lake just turned on. Over 65 bass, 10+ over 2lbs, two over 3lbs, the largest at 3.15. We fished points and walls with tubes, worms,and jigs.
    City: Paradise

    Tips: Dragged Paradise Tackle Jigs (grn/bn) and (grn/br/prl) on points. Tubes and 4in. robo worms on points and walls from 2ft. to 30ft.

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: still cold...

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: when out between 11:00-4:00 with the jitterbug and my cousin the rab-i. caught 7 rabi caught 5 and the jitterbug caught 1. missed about 5 fish. most were caught off of muddy points. i normaly live and die with the pink worm but the fish didnt seem to want it as much. went to the baby brush hog and they seemed to hold it a little stronger. jitterbug caught his with a jig in submerged ditch.
    big fish maybe 16 inches?
    City: palermo

    Tips: stay focused when you got those short strikers a bite in.

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 54

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The main reason for my post is to promote the upcoming Chico Bass Conservation Club Oroville Team Bass tournament to be held on April 25. For a $60.00 entry you get a chance to win a few bucks fishing, a BBQ dinner and entry in the big fish option for a chance at more cash. All the conditions are right for this tournament to draw over 100 boats. Hey and don't leave the wives and kids at home cause there are plenty of chances for them to win a prize at the weigh-in. You can call 872-8805 or 877-0912 for more information or if you have a fax number you can e-mail me and I'll be glad to send you a copy of the flyer with all the info. With the lake up 111 feet at this post and all the ramps open its not to early to gear up for what promises to be the biggest bang for your buck in fishing this year. See you there.
    City: Paradise

    Tips: Everything looks fishy out there now and to be honest I don't have a handle on whats working best. But reports show rip baits off points in windy conditions would be a good bet. Or start with the baits you have the most confidence in and see where that leads you. We may get more posts in here to help. Above all get out there and enjoy the lake while we still have water in it.

Saturday, March 21st, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 49-52

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished all over, Started out on the main body...nothing. Moved South.....Nothing, although we saw a couple being caught by another boat, he was using 1/8 oz darter heads. Moved North caught 2 both on T-Rigged worms. The conditions were not great, rainy, windy ect.
    City: Grass Valley

    Tips: Watch out there is a ton of debris on the water. Also mix it up, talked to a few people that were catching them on jerk baits, darter heads, and t-rigged.

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 48-50

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Now that the Anglers choice Pro-Am is over I can report about my bite. I fished the 2 weekends before the event when the lake was rising like crazy. during those practices, with the exception of an occasional swimbait fish, my bite was senko fish. I used black/blue 4" baits because of the water color. I was keying on the flattest points for the few, but quality, bites I got each day. I practiced for the event on 3/12 with my travel partner, Ken Allerton. I felt that the fish were trying to spawn, so we fished from 0 to about 6 ft deep only. we were throwing 1/8 darters with 6" MM and 4" senkos in black/blue or Junebug. We easily had a 25-30 bites. we cut our hooks for most of the day, but the fish we boated went right at 13 lbs. I was focusing on the inside of secondary points, usually the first 50 yards had the bigger fish. tournament conditions changed drasically, and pushed the fish off a bit. for the event I stayed with the darter right on the bank, and had my am fish deeper with an izzy type rig. both mornings were slow with the bite picking up around noon both days. I had 9.58 on Sat. and 9.82 Sun., enough for a 15th place check, as the weights dropped off a bunch from practice. As for what kind of bank, it seemed to change from hour to hour. Points seemed to hold staging fish in the morning, but the vast majority of my quality fish came on smooth, red clay in the afternoon. My big fish each day came ultra shallow,off a smooth clay spot on rocky banks. thats where the girls were. The rest of our fish came out just outside that 6 ft. depth, probably around 8 ft. these fish were PRE SPAWN!! 14" fish were pushing 2 lbs. Super fat! I think the moon had them up, and they got trapped by the barometer change. The reaction guys ripped alot fish as well, so that bite is coming on. I think quite a few of the anglers that finished above me ripped most of there fish. I caught alot of fish that were trying to bed, so dont be afraid to fish real shallow for the bigger fish, especially later in the day. want to talk?, go ahead and send me an e-mail. Jason
    City: Hollister

    Tips: I fished darterheads and senkos exclusively. however, those shallow fish wanted the bait REAL slow. my dart presentation was to rock the bait, like a jig for awhile, then drag it an inch or two, and rock it some more. the bite would be a pure pressure bite. Ditto for the senko. I would throw into 2 feet of water, and count to 15. slowly drag it about a foot, kill it and count to 15 again. no shaking, wiggling, nothing. it would just swim off, when the fish was on. with both presentations, WAIT to set the hook!!! let them eat the bait or they wont get to the boat. Also, when they started biting short, I changed to a 4" mm for my darter and that fixed the problem.

Monday, March 9th, 2009

  • By

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: hey all, had a question for you. At what level do you think Dark Canyon will be useable to launch a 14' trailerd boat? Thanks for any info. I want to take my kid out fishn' in the next couple of weeks.
    City: Chico

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 46-54

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I took out a seasoned fisherman yesterday for a great Sring Bite on the lake. After all of the low water, one ramp, fast rising, cold muddy water conditions we've had this year, I'ts great to see the conditions ideal. The males are preping the beds and the females are deeper waiting to start spawning. Some have allready started. Just about anything is working depending on when and where you are useing it. Tubes,worms,drop-shot,split shot,senkos are working shallow and drop-shot, swim bait, jigs and worms are working deep. I have found the bass at 1-2ft. down to 5-10ft. and down to 30ft. I noticed in my journals that the water is about 25ft. higher now than last year at this time. We are now 120ft. up from the first of the year and at 780ft. elev. This year is looking to be much brighter than predicted at the begining of the year.
    City: Paradise

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

  • By

    Water Temp: 47-49

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Spent Sat. and Sun. on the lake. 6 bites on saturday, 5 in the boat for 10.93 with my big fish right at 2 1/2 lbs. I fished alot of good looking stuff but all my fish came on a very specific kind of bank. Changed up where I was fishing sunday in the rain and got 1 bite all day! Wow! Tough bite!!! Covered a bunch of water too! Sorry, but I won't talk about what I'm doing or where I'm doing it until after the Anglers Choice. After the Pro-Am I will spill the beans and hopefully pay some guys back for all the info I have dredged from these reports. God Bless
    City: hollister

    Tips: Not Yet!! :-)

  • By

    Water Temp: unknown

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Didnt fish this weekend but someone asked about the ramps. The new ramp at Bidwell (and the parking lot) are now entirely submerged. We will have to wait 'til summer to use the new ramp. The two lane cement ramp at the spillway is in the water..in fact, if we get 20 more ft (at the 740 mark), the regular lower ramp(s) of the spillway will be useable. Thats good news! Nice to have multiple launch sites available now!
    City: Oroville

    Tips: Bidwell area is closed still as of Sunday 3/1. Signs send everyone to Spillway.

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

  • By

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: From my calculations the lake is up 34 feet to the 700 foot level. So my question is how much higher would it have to get for us to use the paved ramp in the back at the dam? And another thought. As quick as the water is coming up its going to overrun the new ramp at Bidwell and with the road not paved it will be next year before anyone will use it. Hey I'm happy, we are getting the water. Good luck fishing out there, I'm headed to Shasta.
    City: Paradise