Almanor Fishing Report
September 22, 2019
Water temps dropped another 3 or 4 degrees this past week hovering around the 64-degree mark. Our days are getting shorter, nighttime temps are dropping into the high 30’s and we experienced a couple of days of clouds and rain over the past week. NOAA is predicting a warming trend through Thursday and then another series of storms and cooling temps beginning on Friday. If you are planning a trip to Almanor this coming weekend be prepared, our predicted high temps on Tuesday and Wednesday are 78 degrees, Saturdays predicted high is 48 degrees, that’s right a 30-degree temp change. Overnight lows will be dropping into the low 30” s.
Fishing was tough this past week with winds, rain, thunder and lightning making for difficult conditions. Fish are transitioning from the slow bite to chasing flies and hardware. Fish remain in deeper water (35-50 feet) and fast is your best choice. Speedy shiners, Artic Fox trolling flies, Rappala’s, needle fish are all good choices. Pond smelt are scattered throughout the lake and continue to be the preferred diet.   
Bank fishermen continue to target fish at Hamilton Branch, there were also a few bank fishermen at Canyon Dam. As water temps continue to drop fishing in the coves will improve for both fly and bank fishermen. 
As a side note: I made a trip to Eagle Lake on Tuesday with friends, we struggled to catch three Eagle lake Rainbows. All nice healthy fish in the 2 ½-3-pound class. Not the results we expected but a great day on the water none the less. Water clarity was poor on the north end of the lake, better on the south. Water temps ranged between 64-65 degrees and boat traffic was light. We easily launched at the low water ramp at the Eagle lake Marina which will have plenty of water through the end of the season. We caught our fish trolling hardware at 2 ½ mph, red dot frog, red needle fish and a pearl bikini each landed a fish.  Fishing on Eagle will only get better from here, you can visit Val Aubrey’s Eagle Lake Guardians web and Facebook sites for current fishing reports and information on the Eagle Lake community.​

June 16, 2019
Summer has arrived, 80 plus degree weather, water temps approaching the 70-degree mark, prolific insect hatches have all made for a tough bite. We transition from winter to summer overnight up here in the mountains. Two weeks ago, we had snow and now we are getting the AC units out.
Fishing has been very tough, fish are scattered throughout the lake, they are feasting on insects and very selective. I have been fishing slow with crawlers and gulps with limited success, I have heard reports of fast trollers having similar (limited) results. We are seeing more boats on anchor, using both anchovy tails for Salmon and the Almanor Cocktail (cricket/meal worm).

Still no significant signs of the Hex Hatch starting, I went to Geritol Cove last evening and there were a half dozen float tubers in the water I then drove to Almanor West where even fewer fly fishermen were in the water. I spoke with one float tuber and he said he saw one bug hatch. Stay tuned the hatch should begin in earnest any day now. 

Almanor is full with water lapping up onto the blacktop at Canyon Dam. In fact, the ramp is up as high as it will go, and you have to step in two inches of water to get to the ramp.
Road construction continues 70 through the Canyon with extended road closures. Please check with Caltrans for current road updates.
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On Sunday June 23rd the Almanor Fishing Association along with local guides and fishermen will be hosting the third annual veterans Fishing Day on Almanor. We have over forty boats taking close to 100 Veterans fishing. There will be at least two Veterans from World War II participating, one is 94 years old and the other is 96. If you are on the water, please acknowledge the fishing fleet of Veterans and thank them for their service.

Mild weather this past week got fishermen motivated here on Almanor. The Canyon Dam parking lot was full on Saturday with a mix of trollers, bass, fly and bank fishermen cleaning off their fishing gear and enjoying some spring like weather. Mornings have ranged between the high teens to low twenties with afternoon highs reaching into the forties. We still have snow on the ground, all our roads are open and clear.
Lake level has risen slightly over the past few weeks reaching the 4485’ mark. Water temps are ranging between 38 and 40 degrees warming slightly in the afternoon after a sunny day. I took the boat out yesterday, fished five hours for two rainbows. We trolled in front of the Canyon Dam boat ramp along the East bank just past the snag fast trolling hardware with no luck, picked up went to the North West end of the lake picked two bows fast trolling , headed to Rec#2 switched over to crawlers and gulps ‘ slowed down to one MPH and didn’t get a grab. We marked fish in deeper water just couldn’t get anything going. I will target fish in the shallows next trip.
Its tough out there this time of year with limited pressure, it’s always nice to have friends on the water to cover more ground when you’re trying to find fish. You have to cover lots of water to find fish and when you do stay on them.
Bank and fly fishermen are picking up fish in the coves, mostly smaller fish with an occasional larger fish thrown in the mix. We are expecting mild weather this week, with some weather next weekend. 
 
 
 
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