Lake Oroville
Butte County Bass, Catfish, Crappie, Salmon, Trout
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What's Biting - 1 month ago
Spotted Bass
Excellent
Trout
Inconsistent
Salmon
Inconsistent

Lake Oroville Fishing Overview

Water Description
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...

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 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.

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
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...

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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Good Spotted Bass bite
Bass, King Salmon
51°F Mixed

Spotted bass are the clear focus at Oroville right now, with nice 2–3 pound fish grouped along rocky spots from the bank out to about 30 feet. They had begun sliding into shallower rock and transition banks, but the latest push of cold water from the storms repositioned them back off the bank and into that 15–30 foot zone. Most consistent bites are...

Spotted bass are the clear focus at Oroville right now, with nice 2–3 pound fish grouped along rocky spots from the bank out to about 30 feet. They had begun sliding into shallower rock and transition banks, but the latest push of cold water from the storms repositioned them back off the bank and into that 15–30 foot zone. Most consistent bites are coming on rip baits worked down to depth and then left to suspend on slack. Jigs and finesse plastics are producing on flatter rock and wood structure, while crankbaits are picking off fish along defined mudlines where stained inflow meets clearer water.

King salmon to around 4-5 pounds are still showing for trollers running near 2.0 mph. Surface temps are hovering right around 50 degrees, but could see an uptick this week with mid-60s air temps forecasted.

6 anglers found this report useful
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Fingerlings
King SalmonCDFW

Nearby Reports

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Lake Oroville Weather

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