130,000 Chinook Salmon Just Got Stocked in Lake Oroville

Lake Oroville just got a significant fish delivery. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife released approximately 130,000 fall-run inland Chinook salmon fingerlings into the lake, adding a major boost to one of Northern California’s most popular fishing destinations heading into the spring and summer season.

The release is part of CDFW’s ongoing effort to maintain and rebuild Chinook salmon populations in California’s inland waterways. Fall-run Chinook are among the most important sport fish in the state, and stocking programs like this one play a direct role in sustaining the fishery that thousands of anglers depend on each year.

Lake Oroville, located about 75 miles north of Sacramento, is already one of the region’s premier recreation lakes. Beyond fishing, it offers camping, hiking, boating, water skiing, and some of the most scenic reservoir scenery in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The addition of 130,000 salmon fingerlings gives anglers even more reason to plan a trip in the months ahead.

The stocking comes alongside improving water levels at the reservoir following recent storm activity. With inflows up and fish in the water, conditions at Oroville are shaping up to be considerably more favorable than they looked just a few months ago heading into winter.

If you’re planning to fish Oroville this season, check CDFW’s fishing regulations for current rules on bag limits and gear restrictions. The salmon fingerlings stocked now will need time to grow, but the fishery overall should be in solid shape this summer.