Lake Oroville Fishing Report

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.

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.

Oroville’s water temps are sitting in the mid to low 50s, but the bass clearly haven't gotten the memo. Local reports say the spotted bass bite has been on fire the last couple of weeks, with fish hitting throughout the water column. T-rigged soft plastics, dropshots, and especially small jigs have been crushing fish off points, rock structure, and drop-offs, from 5 feet down to 30+ feet. The average fish has been chunky too, some pushing 3 to 4 pound range, all with full bellies. Mostly spots, but a few smallmouth are being caught as well.

Not many positive reports coming from trout/salmon trollers, the bite has been very sporadic, although there is mention of the rainbows starting to move up the water column as water temps continue to cool.