One way to locate the smelt is by slowly crisscrossing the mouths of some of the larger coves like Potters or Spring Valley, and watching a depthfinder until the schools of baitfish show up. Lake Oroville also has a large population of crayfish, which normally makes jigs highly productive lures, but for some reason jigs are not all that popular on the lake. The reason is probably because spotted bass tend to hit plastic worms a little more reliably, and spinnerbaits cover the water faster for largemouths. Lines testing 8 to 10 pounds and medium-action rods are standard. Complete motel and restaurant facilities are available in Oroville.
Camping is permitted at several campgrounds located around the lake.