Submit
Report

Oroville Lake and Reports

Limit:
Click for interactive map

Wednesday, May 10th, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 67-68, elevation 848.73

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched about 6am, stopped fishing at 15:15am when the breeze got to blowing. Awesome bite, wide open bite for anyone who wants to go fishing now. Active fish nearly every location I fished with most locations giving up 4-6 fish, one location gave up 7 fish. Decent size fish for the most part. Got 43 fish today, largest right at 15 1/2", two at 15", 3-4 in the 14 1/2" range, with all others 13-14" and only two dinks today. Lost 2 decent fish that had that 15" range plus feel. Hot fishing, so get out on the lake while the bite is on. Fish ranged from 15 foot range to 30-35 foot range, most in the 20-25 foot mark. Water now 67-68 degrees. Pictures in fishing forum.

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 62.9 degrees, elevation 835.16

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime Saddle about 6:30am, stopped fishing right at 10am. Water warmed a bunch since last trip, high of 62.9 degrees, found it's helping the fish be in the mood to bite and beginning to school up some. Fished Lime saddle are out to hwy 70. Caught 19 spots today, largest right at 15 1/2", a couple 14 1/2" with the rest basic 13-13 1/2", and just one dink today. One location gave up 5 fish, one right after the other. Fish ranged from 15 to 35 feet, most in the 20-25 foot range. Still lots of wood, so be careful. Should be good fishing days for all now. Pictures in fishing forum.

Friday, April 28th, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 58.7, elevation 844.44

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched about 6:30am today at Lime saddle, stopped fishing right at 10am. Water warmed a little more and the bite improved a little more. High water temp at 58.75 degrees. Caught my first dink of the year under 12", best fish today right at 14 1/2" with most about 13-13 1/2" Managed to catch 18 spots in the Lime saddle area out to the bridge at hwy 70. Didn't even consider the north fork, way too much wind for that area. Fish were scattered from 15 feet to about 30 feet, just one taken about 35 foot mark. Still a ton of wood around, be careful! Ramp still lots of wood, not as bad getting off as they use the boats to move it to open water, still a bear getting off the water, wood stuck under the boat, had to back off the trailer to free wood so the boat would set right with no wood under it. Pictures in fishing forum.

Thursday, April 20th, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 54.8, elevation 860.87

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched at Lime Saddle about 6:30am, again, 50 foot of wood stacked up on the ramp. Crazy how that stuff picks the ramp for the night! Still a tad slow bite as the water still not warming up, high 54.8 degrees in my travels. Last year 62 degrees in early April. Once you find fish, great bite, finding them is the tough part. No big fish, caught only 7 basic 13" variety. Fished Lime saddle area and out to the end of the west fork. Last year this time, bit was darn near wide open. My guess 2-3 more weeks and bite should be full on. Pictures in fishing forum.

Tuesday, April 11th, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: ??

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Sprinkles of rain and all, decided to go fishing as the real rains were supposed to be late in the day. Seems the park rangers don't feel they should keep the lake safe and accessible to fisherman. Found the ramp loaded with a good 40 foot of wood, and not the fluff stuff, logs and good size logs. Figured I could get launched but sure loading the boat on the trailer would have been very hard with the amount of wood. Gave up and came home. Why doesn't the park rangers keep access for fisherman safe. ?? anyone know the answer. Pictures in fishing forum.

Thursday, April 6th, 2017

  • By

    Report: Just want to thank Tom for all his excellent fishing reports on Oroville. It's hard to get a straight report that current.

Tuesday, April 4th, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 52-54, elevation 842.90

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched about 6:45am at Lime Saddle, off the lake right at 11am. To begin, tons of wood in the launch ramp again, hate that stuff. Water seems to be clearing slightly, not clean but much better then two weeks ago. First fish a decent 15" spot, with the rest basic 13-13 1/2" for a total of just 5 fish today. Bite was slow, difficult to find them today. Good part is the water warmed a tad and water beginning to come up slightly, now 842.90. High water temp was 54 degrees, mostly 52 degrees in most locations. Had to fish today as rains are coming!! Still plenty of wood to avaoid, many large logs, so be careful. Picture in fishing forum.

Friday, March 31st, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 49-52 degrees, elevation 838.70

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime Saddle about 6:40am, off the lake at 11am. A little breezy today, just as the weatherman said it would be. Surprised to see the lake cooled a tad rather then warm, down to 49-52 range, mostly 50-51. Cool water holding off the spawn, but bite not bad, not good either. Managed to get 7 spots today, largest right at 15", one 14 1/2", with the rest 13-13 1/2", nothing less then 13". Fished mostly the Lime Saddle area or basic area. Funny, ducks followed me for nearly an hour, begging for something to eat. Never had them act friendly like this before. Water still dropping, down to 838.70. Pictures in fishing forum.

Thursday, March 23rd, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 52-54 degrees, elevation 847.44

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime Saddle about 6:45am, off the lake at 10:45am. Fished the local Lime Saddle area. Bite seems to be improving ever so slightly, but a long ways from being good. Did catch my first 15" for the year along with a 14 1/2, and the rest 13" range for a total of 6 spots. Me and my Camera have issues, dead battery again and no spare with me, so no pictures!! The 15" fish was takes in about 15 foot of water, all the rest 25-30 foot range. Water no warmer yet, high 54.4 degrees, most areas 52 degrees. Water clearing ever so slightly, depending on where one is at on the lake. Think the water people are scared as the lake is down about 20 foot from my last trip, now 847.44. Guessing they are spooked by the mess up at the damn. Someone cleaned the ramp of wood finally.

Friday, March 17th, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: high 54.6, elevation 863.73

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime Saddle about 7:15am, off the lake at 11am. Ramp was packed with big wood going out and in. Thought they were supposed to clean the ramp now and then! guess not. Found water had warmed a tad, high temp found 54.6 degrees, elevation 863.72, still coming up. Water looks a tad better but still murky and lousy visibility. Bite beginning to come back slightly, got 5 spots today, all 12 1/2-13", didn't measure them. Wood is increasing as the lake comes up. Worked my way to the north fork, picking up a fish every now and then. N. Fork is dirty as all get out, and fair size wood jams all over the place. Might get on the lake next week, if the rain allows. All fish looked like the one in the picture. Pictures in fishing forum.

Saturday, March 11th, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 49-51, Elevation 860.03

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got launched about 6:30am at Lime Saddle, off the lake right at 10:30am. Good time on Oroville lake today, but fishing not so good. Only caught 0ne 13 1/2" spotted bass, but my luck, the battery died on my camera, so no picture. Didn't want to stress fish changing the battery. Water on it's way up again, ever since they let it all out during the spillway fiasco, now 860.03. Giant wood all over the lake, slow boating for now. Water is beginning to clear up a tad, much better then my last trip. Skipping next week, waiting on the water to warm some more. Up to 51 degrees in some of the coves. 49-50 most other open water locations. 58-60 degrees the fish will feel like eating again and catches will be good again. Picture in fishing forum.

Wednesday, March 1st, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 46-47 degrees, 842.27 feet elevation.

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Been a super long time since being able to get on the lake, all rainy days for nearly a month or the lake was shut down needlessly!! Launched about 6:30am today, off the lake about 11am. Where did the fish go. Fished hard and only caught 1 spot about 13", nothing else. Tried just about everything and no bites except for the one fish. Water looks like half mud, pretty darn dirty if yo ask me. Fished the lime saddle area, and several locations going to the N. Fork, which was blowing as usual. Could not buy me a bite at all. Lots of wood in the water, be careful. These are pictures the day the lake got closed, right at 902 feet at lime saddle. Pictures in fishing forum showing lime saddle at 902 feet elevation.

Monday, January 30th, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 45-46

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Lime saddle about 6:45 and found plenty of wood stacked up on the launch ramp, as the winds always blow it to the ramp early am. As I always do, give the ramp a try before leaving and 9 out of 10 times, pick one up. Water still plenty cool, 45-46 degrees in my travels. Slow bite today, just 4 spots, like the one in the picture. Wishing it was mid March to have a decent bite again. !! Picture in fishing forum.

Sunday, January 22nd, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 46

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Went out on a Sunday afternoon. Launch at around 1:30. Went to middle fork and fished at areas with streams running into the lake. A few bites here and there. Boated back to Foreman Creek and was catching fish off of swimbaits (shiners). It was good fishing, but it got late and cold so came back. The few of us got 15-20 bites, landed 7 bass and 1 nice sized coho. We were lucky we got back to dock right before the rain started coming down hard.

Friday, January 13th, 2017

  • By

    Water Temp: 47

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Wow, felt like being on a new lake today with all the rains we got. Launched about 6:45am, off the lake at 10:30am. No more ramp walking, water came up 59.93 feet this week, and only 60 foot to go to match last years high water mark. Lots of BIG wood now, be careful. I think the water puddles around my home are cleaner, water looks like mud, stained the most I have ever seen. Fishing is as good as the water looks, not good. Although I did get 4 spots, but none with any size and they were loners, no hot locations. All fish were 13-14" range, typical of the one in the picture, which shows the stained water well. Looks like no fishing next week, as more rains coming. Too windy to get close to the N. fork, made my boat act like a kite, so gave it up without a serious try. Picture in fishing forum.

Friday, January 6th, 2017

  • By

    Report: Gary Dobyns » Fri Jan 06, 2017 11:25 pm

    I'm planning on throwing reaction baits all day but will have a Senko nearby just in case. I know i'll catch them but I worry about size. Oroville has been tough for a bigger bite. I'll start in the rivers and play it by ear after this. Hopefully I get a big bite to get me started. I rigged a rip bait, crank bait, A-Rig, spinner bait, a Chatterbait, and one senko rod.

  • By

    Water Temp: 46-47

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Burr, talk about cold and windy, coldest day ever for me and yes, I do dress for it. Got launched about 6:45am at lime saddle, and never left the general area as the winds were blowing way too much to head to the N. Fork or main lake area. left home in Magalia 33 degrees, ramp 36 degrees. Bite was ok, picked up 6 spots, best one about 14" and one was a largemouth, but just 12" My feet got cold, so ended up pulling out of the water at 9:30am, shortest trip I ever made. Figured today would be my last chance fishing as the rains will be all next week and lots of it. No pictures as I somehow deleted them all!! not sure how!

Friday, December 30th, 2016

  • By

    Report: Larry Hemphill » Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:53 pm

    I had my first guide trip at Oroville in awhile and turned out to be a very nice trip - WHEN it warmed up!! I took a father and his future "bass pro" 15 year old son yesterday and found the winter bite to be OK. This kid is "all business!" We fished the main body and the middle fork. Both were good stiks and the young man had a color worm that the bass just loved!! He was the hot stik with the most hookups - and the largest bass - a 2 1/2 lb spotted bass. Our bass seemed to be pretty good quality, several in the 1 3/4 to 2 lb range. We had 45 to 50 bites but only landed about 25. Bass seemed to be on steep clay banks with small rock (what else is new?) and from 20 to 40 feet deep. I was happy that they were good enough anglers to recognize the "pressure bite." We tried to fish any subtle differences in the miles of rock walls. I believe this was their first trip to Oroville.

Thursday, December 29th, 2016

  • By

    Water Temp: 48

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Think oroville needs a new name, wood lake right now. The rains brought lots of wood and large stuff, so be careful on the water. Launched about 6:45am at lime saddle, lots of wood on the ramp, so typical this time of year. Water came up 38 feet since my last trip on the 12th, total gain this year 54 feet. The stick bushes are getting back in the water, but were not holding fish today. Muddy, stained water everywhere I went. Tough bite, just 4 fish for me today, but first fish was a decent and rare 14" large mouth. Spots basic 13". Gave up fishing, as my trolling motor reverse gave up on me, so called it a day at 10am, just couldn't hold the boat in position with just one direction. To top it off, forgot my camera!!!.

Monday, December 12th, 2016

  • By

    Water Temp: 51

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Burr, was it ever cold today, fingers mostly. Something like 37 degrees when I got launched this morning, slightly breezy, no killer winds! Bite was slow, so typical this time of year, think water is about 51 degrees. Got 7 spotted bass, most looking like clones to this one, around 13 1/2-14", didn't really measure any. Looks like next week colder and lots more rains to help water levels. Light wood on the lake, didn't see any heavy stuff, be careful.!! Released all fish to grow bigger and catch again one day as always do. Two days ago the lake came up 9 feet, and 2 feet since then, 11 feet since the 10th. More coming which means lime saddle should make it till next year without a shutdown. Picture in fishing forum.