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Thursday, March 29th, 2018

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    Report: by Joe daddy » Thu Mar 29, 2018 7:00 am

    The water level is up about 40ft since my last fish. It’s on the first ramp at bidwell now. All my good holes are under water :roll: water clarity is pretty murky. Made for tough fishing. Should stable out in few days. Jitterbug caught one which he said was about 8” was around 11” by the time we got home. Told him to take a picture, he wouldn’t.

Saturday, March 24th, 2018

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    Report: Been tough to get myself out there knowing Jake’s Beach is underwater now. Might go out this evening to see the new water levels, will report back.

Monday, March 19th, 2018

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    Report: by Joe daddy » Mon Mar 19, 2018 7:02 pm

    17...& 1/2” on baby brush hog.
    My brother threw in that same spot for about half hour with a pink robo worm. I threw about 3-4 cast then my line starts v-lining towards little rock pile. Should get even better next week after these rains comes through.

    PHOTO: http://www.westernbass.com/forum/lake-oroville-t113913.html#p597302

Wednesday, March 7th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 48.5 to 48.8, elevation 727.55

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched about 6:45 am at Lime Saddle, off the water at 10 am. Nice not to have freezing temps for a change, nor blowing winds. Typical winter bite, near nothing going on no matter what I tried. Picked up 2 spots, both at about 35 feet, and that's it for this trip, small a fraction under 13". Tough bite as it always is every March. Water temps dropped a tad, high 48.8, low 48.5 in my travels. Rains only gave a couple foot gain on water level. Don't plan on catching many fish if you go out!! Picture in fishing forum.

Saturday, February 17th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 49.5 to 49.8, elevation 725.34

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched about 6:50 am, off the water right at 10 am. Nice to fish without winds or cold air. Bit a tad slow today, could hardly find the fish. Cold water still 49.5 to 49.8 degree range in my travels. Tried shallow, deep to 45 feet, yet only got 4 fish today and all small young 12-13" babies. Typical winter fishing day. Better rain soon, as the lake is barely coming up now, maybe a 1/4 foot a day at best, some days less. Picture in fishing forum.

Tuesday, February 6th, 2018

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    Water Temp: Elevation 723.00 feet

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at lime saddle about 6:50 am, surprised to find a fair amount of wood on the ramp. Started out great, then the winds blew and blew. One nasty windy morning. Serves me right for not watching the news to know the North winds were going to blow. Finally gave up about 9:30 am, but did catch 9 fish, 2 best right at 13 1/2" Fish were not super deep, 30-35 feet for most of them. Got home, had to shower to warm back up!! pictures in fishing forum.

Tuesday, January 30th, 2018

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    Water Temp: 49 degrees, elevation 718.52

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Finally, enough water in the lake for me to launch at Lime Saddle at 6:50 am, long 22 minute drive, Vrs. 1 hours to Bidwell. Nice morning, slightly cool, and the fish seemed to be willing to bite. Fished just the Lime Saddle marina area and picked up 11 fish, most basic 13" variety, but one was 14". Fish were deep mostly. About half 25-35 foot range, the other half 40-50 foot range. Interesting, deeper fish were on the pale side for color, not all, but most. Slow bait movement, soft bites. I would have fished longer,. but forgot the the boat clock is an hour fast, set for summertime fishing!!!Pulled the boat out at 10 am! Would have fished another hour had I remembered. First picture is the best fish, right at 14", second picture my first fish for the year. Water cool, 49 degree range, so makes for slow fishing. Spent a lot of time with my new hook 12 fish finder, what a change compared to the old one. Love the big screen and auto features. Should be fishing every week now that Lime Saddle is open!! Picture in fishing forum.

    Tips: Fish deeper, fish slow

Wednesday, December 13th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 52, elevation 701.80

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Burr, winter weather has arrived after a couple week of winds, back to fishing. Got launched about 6:45 am, stopped fishing right at 10:30 am. Dang, the first hour or two were brutal cold today, fingers feeling the cold bite, but once the sun got going, awesome day on the water. Winter bite has arrived, got to work much harder to find fish these days. After trying some locations I thought would hold fish, didn't, began working points and managed a few fish. Hop skip around from point to point seemed to work today. Picked up 8 spots, but nothing of any size, best just shy of 14" Fish were deeper, as winter seems to require, most taken in 30-40 foot mark, with slow bait movement, like lazy day fishing. Just as the sun came up, ran across a location in deep water that showed what looked like a 100 fish suspended gathering of large fish in the 40-65 foot range, like they were sleeping together for the night. the size made me thing they were salmon, never have seen this before on the graph. Tried for a bite or two, but nothing. Anyone seen this before? and what might be the trick for getting a bite? Pictures in fishing forum.

Wednesday, November 29th, 2017

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Alarm off at 5 am as always, turn the coffee on and open the door for the cat and hear WIND blowing in the trees and give the hooked up boat and trailer a glance and say, got to be kidding me, can't take my little boat on the water at Bidwell, going to have waves for a few hours. So, drinking coffee thinking about the structure that wend back under water with the last few storm. Now 701.57 feet, right where the water was when Fish were hanging on a drop off about a month ago. Looks like we got a fair boost in water, up 12.11 feet from low water mark a few weeks ago. Should be about a half a foot from the tip of Lime saddle ramp. Try again next week!!

Friday, November 17th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 58 degrees, elevation 694.34, 696.24, up another 2 feet 11/18/2017, 6-7 foot gain in the last two days

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got an early launch, not a single trailer in the lost, first on the lake as usual, right at 6:30 am. Slight breeze, ended up a picture perfect day on the water. Headed to N. Fork, found 2 bucks dead center of the beginning of north fork, kind of main lake, looking for ladies on the other side. Bite was decent, thing the steady water level helped a lot, water up a food, down a 1/3, up a half, back and forth all week, making for near steady water level, up 4 feet or so today. Made about 6-7 stops, found fish ever stop. Again, got a 14 1/4" LM, seems the last 4-5 trips got a LM or two each trip. What's up with this, never this way in the past. Spots were typical, 12 1/2-13 1/2", none bigger today. Stopped my quest right at 10:15 am. Picture just a typical spot, battery died so let the LM go without stressing her. Picture in fishing forum.

Saturday, November 11th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 58-59 degrees, elevation 690.29

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: This is my first weekend fishing this lake and low and behold, tournament going on, making for a busy ramp! Guessing my last weekend fishing, as I tend not to fish weekends, due to the crowds. Got launched about 6:15 am or so, stopped fishing right at 10 am. Bite way off from last trip, fish seemed scattered and not in the frenzy biting mood. First cast a 14 3/4" LM, best fish of the day. Only caught 12 fish today, most the basic 13-13 1/2" size. Perfect day on the water, just a slight breeze, clouds, picture perfect looking this morning, just not a great bite. Found fish 15 feet to 35 feet, most in that 30-35 foot range. Hope next week fish are in a better mood Released all fish as always. Picture in fishing forum.

Tuesday, October 31st, 2017

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    Water Temp: 62-63 degrees, Elevation 695.84

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Bidwell early, about 6:40 or so, not a single trailer or vehicle in the parking lot, spooky feeling, stopped fishing right at 10:35 am. Amazing hardly a breeze this am, unusual for launching early at bidwell. Headed about half way to the rock pile in the N. Fork and found fish willing to bite. First fish about 7:10 am, still half dark. Tried about 6 locations and got fish at each stop, but just 3-4 fish at each stop. Fish still deep, just about all caught 30-35 feet. Thought I had a giant for a while, ended up just a 13" but hooked exactly top of the back, just front of the fins. Wow, they fight when hooked that way. Made a stop in potters cove on the way in and got the 15" fish. Picked up 22 fish today, best right at 15", one 14" most 13" or so, along with a couple 11-12". As always, released all to grow bigger and catch again one day. Pictures in fishing forum.

Wednesday, October 25th, 2017

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    Water Temp: ?? never looked at temp, Elevation 698.25 feet.

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Think I need to adjust my wake up times for the long drive to Bidwell, seems I'l arriving way to early, so used to the 22 minute drive to Lime Saddle. Got launched at 6:35 am, stopped fishing right at 10:30 am. The early morning launch wind was not nearly as bad today for some reason. Picked up my first fish right at 7 am today and seemed like fish were in the mood from the very beginning. Bummer, no larger fish today, think maybe I already caught the better ones, as I fished the exact same location now 3 weeks in a row. Most all 32 fish were the basic 13-13 1/2" size, which included another 2 LM, 3-4 were the dink size of 10-12". Once the breeze died down, nearly like glass in the steep rocky area at the south side at potters ravine cove. One small section gave up 11 fish by holding the boat in the same basic location, most other location gave up 2-3, or 3-4 fish once I found them. Remember, spots love to school up sometimes, catch a fish, stick on that location a while and catch her buddy fish too. Takes me all morning to work this section of the lake, guessing 100 yards of shoreline, maybe a tad less. Fish seemed deeper today, most taken in 30 to 40 feet of water. Picture were the typical size, including 1 LM, all cookie cutters. Pictures in fishing forum.

Tuesday, October 17th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 64 degrees, elevation 701.24

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched early at 6:35 am today, when the wind glows and blows at Bidwell marine ramp, windiest ramp in the N. State in the early mornings, stopped fishing right at 10:30 am. Fished the same exact location as last trip and fish were still holding in the steep rocky area at the south side at potters ravine cove. Steep cliff like rocks don't always hold fish but this location sure seems to. Picked up 29 spots and 2 LM (small) this trip. Spent my entire time working this section. One section gave up 8 fish, another 6 fish, most 3-4 fish before they got spooked and stop biting. For a while it was just about every cast giving a fish up. Get real deep fast in this area, with 3/4 of the fish in the 30-35 foot range. 5 feet from shore is sometimes 20-25 feet!! Deepest fish today close to 40 foot or so. Nearly all fish were the basic 13-14" range, best 15", guessing a male being so skinny. The smaller fish in the pictures were the basic fish for the day. Both LM only 12-13", both fat and thick looking. Pictures in fishing forum.

Friday, October 13th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 62-64, elevation 702.59

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Finally got to get on the lake after a week of winds and fires. Launched at Bidwell about 6:35 am, stopped fishing as the breeze began at 10:30 am. Headed to potters ravine cove to dodge the early morning winds and glad I did. Found fish on the south side in the steep rocks, actually mostly on the banks between the rocks. Fish were fairly deep, most 25-35 foot range. a few close to 40 foot, but not all, LM were hanging along those wall today. Picked up 3 LM, 23 spots along this bank for 26 fished bagged today. For a while it was nearly every cast, with best location giving up 8 fish before they got spooked. Most fish were running the basic 13-13 1/2" with only one runt at 11". Best fish today, a 14 1/2" LM. Very few boats on the water, just me fishing this location. Interesting way the water people think, they have only let it drop 3 feet over the last week. Get the water low enough to shut down lime saddle, then barely drop the water levels!!!! interesting judgement!!!! obvious they could care less about the ramps for fisherman! Pictures in fishing forum.

Wednesday, October 4th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 67, elevation 705.65

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Bidwell this morning at about 6:50 am, stopped fishing about 10:30 am, as Lime saddle is closed due to low water. It's been a couple two or three years since launching here. I had forgotten about the winds coming off the lake early, can be brutal at times. Headed to middle fork trying to remember those locations that hold fish, but didn't really connect with any real hot locations, the ones I do remember were at much lower water levels and had no fish hanging out. Frustrated, only got 12 spots, and largest about 13 1/2" and left the camera in the car too. Almost makes me want to head to Lime Saddle area from bidwell, almost!! Most fish taken at about the 30 foot level, wind in the middle fork gave my tiny boat a hard time holding position, but really didn't matter, since no hot locations found.

Tuesday, September 26th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 70 degrees, elevation 717.62

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime Saddle about 6:40 am today, almost shocked at how far down the water went, off the lake at 10:15 am. Looks like 7 or so days left for this ramp. Kind of breezy today, but it sure didn't hurt the bite any. Bagged 34 spots this morning, all from the same 40-50 feet of shoreline where the breeze was minimal to near nothing, only calm location at Lime Saddle. Fish seemed to move in groups, a little this way, then the other way. Seemed like every other cast got a bite. Fish were ok size, most 13" plus, with about 10 fish in the 11-12" runt size, best two 15" and 14 1/2", along with a catfish and a 13 1/2" large mouth. Good example of giving a location a chance after catching a fish, like today, rather then move on down the bank. Fish were deeper, just like the bait balls, all 30-40 foot, best fish on the deeper side. Good day fishing for a change. Pictures in fishing forum.

Monday, September 25th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 70-74

    Report: Fished on Saturday and Monday. Lake still on pace to get less water everyday. On pontoon on sat we caught 3 largies, 3 little fat bellys and bunch of spots, no big ones. The had tournament heard there was a 5lb spot and 7lb lg mouth so went back Monday. Missed a big bite off of pt in middle fork. Serge caught nice 18"spot. He runs crank baits all day caught more fish more bites also. Windy colder water in main body 70, 72-74 in middle where lg mouth caught more active fish in the warmer water. Didn't make it to south fork.

Tuesday, September 19th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 74-75 degrees, elevation 726.98

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime Saddle about 6:40 am, stopped fishing about 10:15 am, when the breeze picked up. Wow, the lake sure is dropping fast, shocks me every time I launch and see maybe one 7-10 days before Lime saddle closes due to low water. Water cooled a bunch, now 74-75 degrees, another week and might hit 70 degrees. Bite seems to have changed too. Not one single fish caught about the 25 foot mark, all caught 30-35 foot range today, no matter where I fished. Could not find any shallow fish today! Caught 18 fish, mostly 12-13 1/2" fish, and one tiny tiny runt and best right at 15" Water looking better too, clearing up more and more each trip. Interesting, seeing marina dudes pulling out 50 foot house boats before the water closes the ramp. Should have gotten a picture, just never thought about it till too late. Looks like I'll be fishing middle fork soon!! Pictures in fishing forum.

Wednesday, September 13th, 2017

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    Water Temp: 78 degrees, Elevation 735.08

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched about 6:35 am today at lime saddle and stopped fishing at 10:15 am, surprised, only one other boat launched today, even though it cooled a bunch from last week. Water beginning to cool a tad, now 78 degrees every place I went and the algae is started to die and water clear up some. Fished all my usual location and found it slightly slow today. Caught 18 spots this am, most 13" to 13 1/2" and just one decent fish right at 15 1/2" Fished mostly 25-35 feet, but did catch a few at the 50 foot range. Soon as the water cools more the bite for better fish should improve. Guessing Lime Saddle has 2 1/2 more weeks before the water gets to low for the ramp. Picture in fishing forum.