Hi everyone, Happy New Year to you and your families. Well we are getting the rain we need, it is coming down slowly enough not to cause to much erosion. We have a long way to go but with the snow pack building it looks good to get our lakes back on track by Spring.

Lake Oroville has come up 23 feet since the rains started and many storms lined up in the Pacific. The other lakes in the north state have also come up nicely as well. On Lake Oroville the concrete ramp at Bidwell is in the water due to another extension just built, however it has not open to the public as yet as the state plans to cut the crown of the ramp so it is easier to put your boat in.

The ramp at the dam is open as well as the gravel ramp at Bidwell and they are both 4 wheel drive only until a concrete ramp is open. That will be in a few weeks depending on the weather/rain!! Lime Saddle needs 36 feet of water before it will reopen. That could be by the end of the month or in Feb. The Spillway ramp will be open sooner as it extends lower and needs around 20 feet now. If the Bidwell job can get done quickly it will be the next best ramp to open. They were to start on it today.

A lot of traffic has been on the lake lately with a series of large tournaments. Last week Sun. NorCal 90 had 53 boats in their first tournament of the year and this last Sat. Gary Dobbins’ new circuit Wild West Circuit drew 98 teams for its first tournament and Paradise Bass Club drew 23 boats yesterday for their first one of the year.

On the first two tournaments many two pound bass and a hand full of 3 pound bass were caught. Surprising that no 4 pound bass came in , but they will start showing up soon.

Many bass have been taken on crank baits, spinner baits (Persuader Baits image blades), shaky head worm (best worms have been Worm Red and Purple Rain from Calvin’s custom Baits), senkos, and jigs (best jigs have been brown /purple and green pumpkin/ chartreuse and black /blue from Paradise Tackle Co.) Many of the bass are coming from 5-30 feet and the water temps are ranging from 48-52 degrees. In some of the incoming water the temps are much colder.

This is a great time to fish as the lager fish do start coming up. Also Bullards Bar will start to turn on in the weeks to come. A few of the big girls have been caught in the last few weeks but will be more consistent in a few weeks with a bit more water. I am already booking for Bullards Bar so if you are looking for that trophy catch this is the lake. Oroville however is the one for numbers.

One other bit of information , I will be at the ISE in Sacramento at the Cal Expo on Sat. the 23 rd. this year at the Fisherman’s Warehouse booth Persuader Baits display. Stop by and say hi if you are going to the show. It is always a pleasure to see my clients when I am down there working.

For your next fishing adventure give my a call or e-mail me. It is always my pleasure to serve you on our Northern Californian Lakes. Best regards, Ron