
Lake Oroville
Kings and Rainbows Top Angling Menu, Boat Inspections Continue
OROVILLE - The Lake Oroville king salmon and rainbow fishing is going strong, but you need to troll deep with downriggers, according to Brett Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service.
“We are catching some giant rainbows (4–6+ lbs.) and kings up to 4.5 lbs. Troll Uncle Larry's hoochies 70–100 ft down in white or green. Add scent, anchovy, or sardine for extra strikes,” Brady advised.
On a recent trip. Brady reported, “What a butt-kicking day on Oroville. We went 13 fish for 17 kings to 5.9 pounds. We had three others to the back of the boat. We got on a bait ball – and left the fish while they were still biting.”
On the next day, he reported a good mixed bag of king salmon, rainbow trout and spotted bass. “We needed some wind. The lake was pretty flat all day. We caught the fish at 40 to 70 feet,” Brady explained.
DWR’s mussel inspection program in Oroville continues to protect State Water Project (SWP) infrastructure, according to the California Department of Water Resources.
Mandatory watercraft inspections are required prior to launching at the Oroville Facilities (Lake Oroville, Thermalito Forebay, Thermalito Afterbay). Watercraft that pass the inspection will receive a seal and can launch during designated ramp hours.
Watercraft Inspection Location/Decontamination Services are only available at the North Thermalito Forebay at Garden Drive and HWY 70 in Oroville. Hours of operation are daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Watercraft inspections and decontamination services at DWR’s Oroville facilities are free. To pass an inspection, watercraft and trailers must not have any attached mussels and be clean and 100 percent dry. Watercraft with ballast bags/tanks, bilge, and motors must have a working battery and be operational to complete required inspections.
Be sure to bring your vessel’s keys! Sealed Vessel Launching: All trailered and personal watercraft with an intact blue seal will be permitted to launch at the following boat ramp facilities during the hours listed. Boat ramps at the Oroville facilities will no longer be open 24/7. Launching trailered boats or personal watercraft is not allowed at any other location.
The launch ramp hours are daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.. at the Spillway and Bidwell Canyon ramps.
The Limesaddle and Loafer Creek facilities are open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Thermalito Afterbay at Monument Hill ramp is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset.
The Thermalito Forebay at the North Forebay ramp is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.