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Oroville Lake and Reports

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Saturday, July 23rd, 2005

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    Water Temp: 82

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: First time on Oroville- what a beautiful lake! Fished at the top of the North Fork and pounded'em on plastics. Color, shape, flavor didn't seem to matter- if it got in front of them you got bit. Mostly spots and smallmouth with one largemouth around 3lbs. Had to fish through the little guys to find fish over 12". Overall a great day. My girlfriend even caught fish.... However, no day would be complete without encountering some jerk on the water. While up the N.F. some guy, his buddy and girlfrined literally drove their yellow fishing boat between me and the bank (while I was casting)- then coped an attitude when I objected, unbelieveable.
    City: Roseville

    Tips: Bring plastics, wear sunscreen.

Saturday, July 16th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 81-83

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I guided a grandpa, son, and grandson, Thurs and a single client for half day on Fri. No heatstroke thankfully! Water was 81 on Thurs when we started in the south fork, and then went to the middle fork which I thought would have an afternoon breeze. Bingo! - it saved us!! We caught around 40 bass up to 14 1/2 inches, including lots of 12 inchers. It was the fun they were looking for! Green pumpkin and morning dawn were the worm colors that worked best. We were split-shotting the worms. I tried topwater and did catch 2. We fished every shade pocket we could and that helped - especially in the middle fork. That is a good pattern when the lake is full - look for overhanging trees. Most of our bass were caught on points or cuts. They were from 2 feet deep to 25 feet - bigger ones were deeper - no surprise. Small bass were chasing bait all over in open water. Friday was different. The water was 2 degrees warmer and the fish were more scattered and smaller. There were small bass everywhere near the surface but they had no bait to chase is my guess. The bait went deep. There was no surface activity and it was hot!!!!! We stayed in the south fork and did catch 20+ - including my client's LARGEMOUTH. Where did that come from?! Interesting to fish back to back days and see the changes that take place as the weather dictates.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: All the bass were spiting up pond smelt - lots of them! The smelt were sure small - no wonder the bass are skinny! At least they are feeding well. It is fun to guide clients that are using my 782 G. Loomis rods! Those spots won't quit in 80 degree water. The clients just love fighting those fish on a wonderful rod. I found flats that extent out 20-25 feet from shore and then drop off - held the most and the biggest bass. Definately - Structure 101 for summer!!

Saturday, July 9th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Oroville with my two kids, both caught as many fish as I did. We started out fishing south of the bridge near Lime Saddle with Morning Dawn and Ox Blood worms, both worked very well. Kimberlee(7) was first to put fish in the boat! After one more from Kimberlee and 3 from dad Colin(10) put 2 in the boat! We tried Hula Grubs, Spinner baits and top water, but only worms were our best bet for the day! We each had 3 or 4 for the day and no lake lice to speak of.........Amazing!
    City: Sacramento

    Tips: Fish were only interested in SLOW.......only one fish on a spinner bait at a fast pace. Morning dawn 4" and 6" worms were hot all day.

Wednesday, June 15th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: I would use A cinnamon with purple flake Hulla grub. Not sure on crank bait.
    City: sac

Monday, June 13th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: What is a good color of yamamoto spider jig for this lake in late september early october for DAY fishing? Also crankbait colors?
    City: hayward

    Tips: sorry for posting on here but the forum and chat rooms where not working

Friday, June 10th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I did another guide trip - half day this time - looking for quality spots. We did find some quality fish, but nothing over about 2 1/4. I did help my clients learn how to find good fish at Oroville, and with a little luck, their bass might be bigger. We did catch 30 bass in the short trip with a limit of over 9 pounds. Split-shotting and shaking worms worked well as well as Yamamoto grubs.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: We saw lots of suspended bass that just wouldn't bite. I think many of the quality bass have moved deep even though the lake is full. There are lots of bass still very shallow and fun to catch on any worm you throw at them!

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: We spent about 2 1/2 hours out on Oroville this Saturday in the middle of the Future Pro Tournament. We fished the areas just south of the bridge near Lime Saddle Marina. Kimberlee, my 7 year old caught 3 bass all about 1 pound on a watermelon Bitsy Tube in about 12 feet of water. My 10 year old Colin caught 7 fish, all on the same watermelon Bitsy Tube. I was able to put 7 in the boat all on a cinnamon twin tail Yamamoto grub on 1/2oz football head jig. Biggest fish was about 2 pounds. Overall a great day on the water with little or no sign of the Tournament fishermen up that far north! It sure was nice!
    City: Sacramento

    Tips: All the fish were in the shade portions just off the main points near rock or wood. We fished slowly off the bottom about 8 feet off shore in 12 feet of water to pick up 17 fish in only a couple of hours. Take a kid fishing it will make your day!

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    Water Temp: 73

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: To all of the Future Pro Tour anglers good luck on Saturday! Your gooing to need it!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
    City: sac

    Tips: Look out for the BASSCRAPPER (BASSCAT)as my partner calls my boat. He is a Ranger owner of course.

Saturday, June 4th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 65-75

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished from 6 am to 4 pm with Jimbob and did well.We caught around 80 fish for the day between us.Most were small but some areas have better fish than others.Amost everything worked today,topwater,darterhead worms,brushhogs,senkos and flukes etc.Had one lrge mouth 3-14 and one spot 4-1 for the best fish of the day.Total weight for best 5 was 14 lbs 8 oz
    City: Granite Bay

Friday, June 3rd, 2005

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    Water Temp: 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I spent 2 delightful days guiding at Oroville (Wed and Thurs). Can't remember when the last time I fished back-to-back SUNNY days!! The lake is in its rare stage - nearly overflowing! It is fun to fish the bank and look right into the forest rather than bare banks. It is more challenging to fish it when full, but it is exciting (except for the debris) to fish when conditions are different!! My Wed client was doing his first serious bass trip (he is of the trout crowd - maybe no so much now!) and had a ball - and did very well. We put 27 in the boat - all spots - with the largest at 2 lbs 9 oz. Larger fish were active which helped us to a 10 1/2 lb limit! We stayed in the south fork all day. My Thurs client was an upcoming tournament angler and excellent fisherman - but the bass wern't as excellent, maybe because of a slight cool front. We did catch 26, but there were more small ones and the biggest was only 2 1/4. We had a limit a few ounces over 9 lbs. The fish wern't as aggressive and seemed to be harder to hook. We did do more running around the south and middle forks since this was his first trip to Oroville, so we wern't fishing every minute. As folks have been reporting for some time, there sure are a lot of skinny spots at Oroville now - but, they can still fight with the best. Some of the females had obviously already spawned.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I am limited as to what I can say about techniques since we did many of the same things both days and Mr. Thursday is fishing an upcoming tournament. We fished a lot of 4 to 7 inch worms, mostly split-shotted and Texas rigged. The bass changed their color preference both days. Don't be afraid to switch colors often. We finally got a little topwater action on Thurs, providing we found the right kind of structure. I hope that holds up - my client will do well! We caught bass from 0 to 30 feet both days.

Saturday, May 21st, 2005

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    Water Temp: 65

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Left ramp at 6:30am. Water is up 20' in the last 2 weeks. The water is crystal clear, but watch for LOTS of floating debris all over the lake. Had 5 small fish right away along rock walls and in submerged trees. Saw a lot of bigger fish cruising trees and bushes, but couldn't provoke a strike. Tried top-water, spinners, Rat-L-Traps, worms, tubes....just no takers.
    City: Reno

    Tips: I would be willing to bet that with the rapid water rise, night fishing would be a lot of fun and pretty productive. Full moon now too.

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    Water Temp: 65

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Took the wife and our new BASSCATT SABRE out for A little pre fishing. Meet my cousin and his son with their RANGER 195 at the boat ramp 7:30 a.m. Lake is full to the top. Went to main body points with small coves had first fish in boat by 7:50 third cast on brown jig.Fished Texas rigged Robo plastic with no takers. Switched wife to drop shot and she the went on to cath fish after fish.None would measer. I stayed with brown jig landed 5 with 1 under 15in the other 4 went 8.63lbs. Cousin had simular results on drop shot but with only 3 that went 6.17lbs Off the water by 1:00p.m.
    City: Sac

    Tips: For a lot of fish find bait and drop shot action all day. For size I would stay with Jigs. Fish were all cought in 15 to 25 feet of water.

Saturday, May 14th, 2005

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Hey Bill,

    I was one of those zoo people so, stay off the name calling. This site is for fishing reports only, NOT a site where people like you can complain.
    City: San Jose

    Tips: Keep your personal business in the circus. THANX

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    Water Temp: 57

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished late saturday Bidwell area fish larger no hens wacky fished magic worm in shad color with small nail in head released some 20 pluss fish parking lot a ZOO pepole parked where they please brought boats a nd parked them in no parking areas and left them turn around area.high speed on the lake in slow zones WHERES OUR OVER PAID RANGERS????
    City: Chico

    Tips: STAY HOME ON WEEK ENDS OR MOUNT A CANON ON THE FRONT NOT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR other wise fishin was great fish slow give the fish time to see the target

Sunday, May 1st, 2005

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    Water Temp: 60-65

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: stayed with and old friend in his new house in jones valley,the fishing is great. the skitterpop is by and far the best lure ever made,as every bass pro that works at the quarry will atest too.we caught over 60 fish each day only on the skitter and robert and ron tell me it has caught more fish and won more money than any lure on the lake,thanks for the great time and i will tell everybody to bring those skitters as you can't find them in redding,we fished nothing but willows targeting spawn fish and pre-spawn,thanks again bob
    City: paradise

    Tips: weekends are best according to robert as they have a 80% work comp rate in jones valley so the people just collect checks and fish,the store is filled with them in the morning and after they fish in afternoon,they are real lazy and dont fish on weekends but like robert says US LOCALS CATCH THE TOADS SO YOU DON't get to scared.

Saturday, April 30th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 62

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Hit water with the wife at 9a.m. Went to same places I fished in tournament south fork. Wife catchs a 18 inch spot on salt and pepper 4 inch grub mad dog 1/8 dart head.We caught and released over 50 spots. My tubes worked really well today.Last week it was worms. Tried a new hook that lets you dart head weedless. Works really cool on 4 inch worms around wood. Oroville outdoors has them. There out of 3/16 and 1/4 so hurry for the few 1/8 left. Works on 4 inch grubs too. Should be a killer addition to my tackle box.It has a worm hook shape with a black head.
    What a cool place to take the wife to catch fish and relax.Funny how the river had a strong wind and the main lake was calm? Kept changing colors again when the bite slowed and it worked again?Salt and pepper tubes then brite orange tube with green flakes for a while.Sometimes no bite sometimes they bite all the little finger off.
    City: orangevale

    Tips: Go have fun. Lake is on fire right now. If it;s windy use 3/16 dart head. Water is gin clear.Small bucks are everywhere. I was using 4lb test on a little crappie rod just for fun.Caught lots on small green road runner.If grubs arent killing them switch to rubes or 4 inch worms. They are there.

Saturday, April 23rd, 2005

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: bass classics club tournament. 2 day event card system with golden rule board. Started up south fork. Caught 8 over the slot? Best 5 12 lbs. Came in 5th place saturday. Big ones came on 4 inch morning dawn on 1/8 dart head poured by mad dog tackle.Two over 17 inches. Rain and clouds all day fish were in 40 feet. Smaller ones 15.Brass amd glass wood all day for smaller spots.
    Sunday returned to same area caught a 17 1/2 inch spot right off. Added a 15 and 16 and rest 14's. Had 10.40 lbs sunday moved up one spot for 4th overall? Guy who won J. R. Taylor senko's and wacky rigged worms in backs of coves. I think he had 24 lbs for 2 days. Bite early was great for 3 over 17 inches before 8 o'clock.
    City: orangevale

    Tips: Let your dart head hit the bottom. Fish slow. chanage colors of worms frequently if bite slows down. Don't know why but spots change whaat they like all day? My partner had 16 lbs and all different colors. 4 inch up to 7 inch worms.

Sunday, April 17th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 58-61

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Sunday the 17th from about 7am-noon.

    The wind picked up pretty good around 9am and I had a decent rip bait bite. Only 3 barely over the slot though. Biggest was 15". I have problems catching big fish. Which is why i was fishing a rip bait that day. I was trying to catch bigger fish. Which I did overall I guess. Still not the limit of 2+lbers I was hoping for. Of course the guy at the sporting goods store made it seem like even my grandma was catching 3 lber's. So I must be an idiot :)

    So anyways I was fishing a Luckycraft Staycee 90 in Chartreuse Shad. Oh, and I was using 3 suspend lead dots on it to drop it down a few extra feet.

    I fished the north fork this time. Water temps were 58-61. I had the most luck this time on points within the north fork. Not much up in any of the coves. My budy in the back seat fished various colors of 4" robo worms drop shotting and managed 5 fish. I landed 17. But judging how prior posts claimed we should catch 100 we must suck. Arg.
    City: Chico

    Tips: Ask the people catching all the fish. Please brag and post your freaking reports so I can get a clue. This lake kills me :) If you caught more than 17 and 3 over the limit Sunday in the North Fork spill the beans please!

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    Water Temp: 57-60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: fished both sat and sun. lots of boats from tourneys. caught most of my fish on drop shot. but also caught fish on every thing i used not just the drop shot. found fish in about 15ft of water around trees and med. size chucks of rocks. avg. fish went 1 to 1 1/2 lbs
    City: elverta

    Tips: just about everything worked

Thursday, April 14th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 57 to 61

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Caught over 200 in a three day period. Caught them on just about everything except topwater. Surface temp is rising about 1 degree a day. should be perfect this weekend. Caught them on every structure you can think of. You got to love Oroville! I think this weekend it should be top notch. It should be 100 fish a day this weekend. Wish I was there still!

    Tips: Carolina rigged 4 inch worms - any color will work. Caught a number of spinnerbait fish.