North Valley Outdoors

Lake Oroville - Oroville, CA (Butte County)


8-21-2008

Steve Carson

Volunteers needed at CAST for Kids on North Forebay

The third annual "Catch a Special Thrill" [CAST] for Kids fishing event for special needs children will take place on September 20, and will be held at the North Forebay instead of Lake Oroville due to low water conditions.

"We want to give the kids a fun day of ???pro-style' fishing, like they've seen on TV", said John Ford, special services director of the Department of Water Resources. "We hope to have 40 new children participating at this year's event, and are also working on an alumni event that will take place next spring.

"We are soliciting volunteers for the event from Chico State among students who are looking for a career working with children with disabilities. We also need expert fishermen with boats to serve as ???guides' for the children."

Ford continued, "The Oroville Kiwanis will provide coffee and breakfast to the volunteers and anglers starting at 6:45 AM. Fishing itself will run from about 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and the children will then be taken by Exclusive Limousine Service over to the barbeque lunch provided by the Chico Bass Club. We also received a $1,000 grant from Wal-Mart, so each participant will receive a fishing-themed Build-A-Bear, along with fishing tackle, t-shirts, hats, a plaque and other items in a goody bag."

The young participants and their parents will be working with Anna Kastner, manager of the Feather River Hatchery, and non-fishing volunteers will be handled by Amanda Louderback of Feather River Recreation and Parks. The volunteer ???fishing guides' and their boats will be directed by well-known local outdoorsman Don Reighley. Those interested in helping out in any way should contact John Ford at jford@water.ca.gov or 530-534-2306.

Lake Oroville

Fishing has been generally good on Lake Oroville, according to Fil Torres at Oroville Outdoors. "It's been pretty good for both bass and coho salmon", said Torres. "A lot of caution is still needed for boat launching. Just for safety, at least two people and a four wheel drive vehicle should be used.

"The cooling trend has gotten the fish moving. The low and dirty water conditions mean that crankbaits and other reaction baits are working well. The fish are shallower than you might expect due to the dropping water.

"Bass fishing is still very good at night on fish in the slot and slightly above, and even on the weekends you will mostly have the lake to yourself once the sun starts going down. We had one angler who made an excellent mixed catch of spotted bass and coho salmon using a silver-bladed chatterbait with a blue pearl skirt that nicely replicates a pond smelt."

Torres added, "There are some nice steelhead being caught on the Feather River between the bridge and the outlet on worms and roe. We had five and nine-pounders weighed in this week."

FLW tournament

Competitive bass fishing's highest pedestal is occupied by a 24-year old northern California angler this week. Michael Bennett of Lincoln topped the field at the Forrest L. Wood event on Lake Murray in South Carolina, and took home the one million dollar first prize by totaling 24 pounds, 15 ounces of bass over the two-day event. The second-place finisher pocketed a cool $100,000.



Trout plants

The DFG planted catchable-size trout this week in the following area waters: Shasta County- Baum Lake, lower-upper Burney Creek, middle-upper Hat Creek, Sacramento River; Tehama County- Deer Creek; Plumas County- Antelope Lake, North Fork Feather River. Send your outdoor news items to Steve Carson via e-mail at scarson@sunset.net




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8-21-2008
Water Conditions: The water level is low, and the weeds are thick. Fishing Conditions and Hatches:GOOD Recently people have been catching some fish near the buckeye inlet early in the morning. Fish are moving up into the inlets and anywhere cooler water is coming in. Rainbow and Rocky point is still fishing good in 10-16 feet of water. Damsels, Callibaetis and midges are still coming off strong. Stripping Damsels, and Callibaetis are wise choices .Perch fry are on the menu as well. Recommended Flies: MIDGES #8-12...... Read More