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Updated August 13, 2026

LAKE McSWAIN — Hot temperatures and the last plant occurring two weeks ago have slowed down the bank bite for planted rainbow trout. The best action will occur in the early mornings or late afternoons into the evenings around the normal locations of the Handicapped Docks, the Brush Pile, and the peninsula close to the marina. Bright colors of Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and spoons such as Kastmasters work for the occasional rainbow. The best trout fishing takes place for trollers working the cooler waters of the river arm below the Exchequer Dam with a variety of presentations. The Splash-N-Dash Water feature dominates interest on the lake. Information on the Splash N’Dash is available at: https://mysplashndash.com/. Reel Deal Market & Cafe is now open every day the Splash N’ Dash is operation, Mondays thru Fridays from 10 AM to park close; Saturdays from 8 AM to 7 PM; and Sundays from 9 AM to 7 PM. The 2027 camping reservation window opened on July 15 for reservations after July 1, 2027.

NEW MELONES — Dropping water levels have affected the kokanee bite as the fish are moving into full spawning mode, holding tight to structure. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service has been locating the landlocked salmon at depths to 120 feet with Head Hunter TSpoons or Papa G’s J-pexs in purple or pink behind a 5.5- to 8-inch Paulina Peak gold hammered dodger at depths from 90 to 120 feet. He said, “The fish have lockjaw right now with the dropping water, and you have to wake them up by keeping your lures in the strike zone as long as possible. We are slowing down to 0.5 mph to up our odds of increasing strikes as they are only hitting the lures through aggressive. Stick weights are essential right now to keep the lures as close to the bottom as possible without getting hung up. These fish are just lying in the mud.” For bass, Aaron Jones reported the best action remains at night as the action slows down as soon as the sun comes out. The bass are holding deeper from 30 to 40 feet with underspins, jigs, or plastics on a shakey head. He said, “100 fish days are possible as there are giant schools of shad in the lake. However, the bite slows down after 8:00 am.” Topwater lures are effective when the bass are chasing shad on the surface.  Both Glory Hole and Tuttletown open from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Glory Hole will be the only ramp open starting at 8:00 am Monday through Thursday. All boats must be quarantined for 30 days or decontaminated at the New Melones Marina. Water releases continue as the lake dropped to 1017.07 feet in elevation and 68% with downstream Tulloch at 98%.

LAKE OROVILLE — Triple-digit temperature have limited trolling during the daytime, but there are quality king salmon to be taken running a variety of terminal tackle behind 8-inch flashers in green/white or Wonderbread at depths to 115 feet. Tipping the tackle with an anchovy fillet is key along with mimicking the lake’s pond smelt. The kings are found around the schools of pond smelt, and the bass are also feeding heavily on the pond smelt. Spotted bass have moved out into deeper water to 40 feet around main lake points, bluffs, ledges, or drop offs, and a variety of baits including crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, or plastics on a Bass Union Ned or Darter head in pond smelt imitation colors are working for numbers  Boat inspections for golden mussels are no longer needed at Oroville, the Thermolito Forebay, or the Thermolito Afterbay as on the d Department of Water Resources scientists determined the lake’s fluctuation and colder water will not allow golden mussels to reproduce. All boats still must be clean, drained, and dry. The lake is dropping water rapidly, and it has receded 21 feet in the past two weeks to 824.19 feet in elevation and 70%. There are three club bass tournaments remaining in August with four in September.

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