Lake Oroville Fishing Overview

Lake Oroville is a giant reservoir covering over 15,000 acres, featuring a massive central body of water with long extensive arms branching north and east. Its varied shape translates to a fish habitat ideal for both cold and warm water species. Bass fishing at Lake Oroville is considered best as the lake begins to warm after winter months. Early spring provides a solid spotted bass bite, and hungry pre-spawn largemouth bass action can produce double-digit monsters. Trout anglers can find fish throughout the year. In colder months, the fish are...

Bass fishing at Lake Oroville is considered best as the lake begins to warm after winter months. Early spring provides a solid spotted bass bite, and hungry pre-spawn largemouth bass action can produce double-digit monsters.

Trout anglers can find fish throughout the year. In colder months, the fish are found closer to the surface, but summer heat pushes them to depths beyond 60 feet. The chinook salmon at Oroville display a similar pattern, albeit they don't come as shallow in the winter. Trolling remains the preferred method on this giant lake.

Lake Oroville provides plenty of camping and recreational activities. So expect crowds during the summer and weekends.

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Species:

Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Coho Salmon, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Redeye Bass, Channel Catfish, White Catfish, Crappie, White Sturgeon

Stocked Date:

King Salmon stocked 2 years ago - View Schedule

Trophy Fish:

Largemouth Bass: 15.48 lb
Chinook Salmon: 19 lb 11 oz
Rainbow Trout: 15 lb

Boating / Access:

All boating allowed

Regulations:

Quagga Mussel Inspection

Geography:

Max Depth: 722 ft

Surface Area: 15,500 acres

Surface Elevation: 901 ft

Fishing Reports

Log Report

Lake Oroville

Jul 3

Butte County

Public

Excellent King Salmon bite

Trout, Bass, Salmon

75°F Clear

Pond smelt are the dominant forage right now at Lake Oroville. King salmon, rainbows, and spotted bass are all keying in on the schools. Trollers are getting a ton of action on hoochies tipped with anchovy fillets between 50-100 feet, with rainbows higher in the water column and kings deeper. Some big fish being pulled out... plenty of 5 pounders...

Bass are also chasing these smelt schools near rocky structure in 20-30 feet. Any lure that resembles these baitfish is producing like crazy... crankbaits, swimbaits, Roostertails, etc.

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Lake Oroville

Apr 28

Butte County

Public

Excellent Spotted Bass bite

Trout, Spotted Bass, King Salmon

63°F Clear

A lot of good spotted bass action coming out of Oroville right now. Water temps are hovering between 62–65 degrees, and fish are generally in one of three spawn phases. Dropshotting is the best move right now for most consistent action, combined with either a 4½-inch roboworm or small swimbait. The northern end of the lake is serving up warmer water temps compared to the south/east, so fish are shallower and more easily targeted there. Ned rigs, small T-rigged crawdad soft plastics, and small crankbaits are producing as well. Not a lot of size, most fish in the 1 pound range, with the occasional 2-3 pounder mixed in.

Trollers targeting trout and/or salmon have reported inconsistent action recently, although many say the bite should turn in the next few weeks.

CDFW released almost 130,000 fingerling Chinook salmon (up to 6 inches) into Oroville last week. This stock obviously won't help anglers this seasib, but will stabilize the salmon fishery for the coming years.

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