The Almanor Fishing Association reports that its final four brand-new fish pens were completed and installed last September, wrapping up an upgrade project that began in 2020. Organizers say the group has expanded both in membership and in community offerings, and they are also seeking new volunteers to help feed the fish being raised in the Lake Almanor pens every winter.
AFA history
Long before Lake Almanor was created by the construction of Canyon Dam, fishing was very popular in and around Big Meadows, said AFA. The late 1800s saw people from far and near coming to the Big Meadows Basin to escape the summer heat of the Central Valley and of course to fish the many springs, pools and streams of Big Meadows.
A century later, in the early 1980s, a local group of avid anglers decided to form an association whose goal was to preserve and grow the Lake Almanor fishery. The Lake Almanor Enhancement Committee was formed. It partnered with the California Department of Fish and Game — now the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — and other concerned groups.
“It was recognized that while fishing was very popular there was little effort to maintain and increase game fish in the lake,” said AFA. “In other words, the lake fish population was declining.”
The committee formed a fish pen rearing program, which was started with homemade floating pens. The program was a success and, in many ways, has changed little over the years, said AFA. Young fish were provided by California Fish and Game, food was purchased by the committee and feeding went on through the winter. Well-fed medium-sized fish were released into the lake in the spring.
Typically, 50,000 to 60,000 fish were raised yearly — this was no small matter, considering that winter snows and freezing conditions greeted feeders some days as the fish were fed.
The group raised a variety of species: originally salmon were selected, followed by various trout species, which remain the focus today. To date, the Almanor Fishing Association has raised and released just over 2 million fish into the waters of Lake Almanor.
Fish pen upgrades
By the early 1990s, after some thought, the committee decided a name change was needed, and the Almanor Fishing Association came to be. Around 1992 the homemade pens were replaced with durable aluminum pens that were left in the water year-round. Many of those original aluminum pens remained in service through 2020 and beyond, but time had taken its toll, said AFA. The aging pens and their associated dockage, made of wood, required a high level of maintenance each year just to keep them usable.
In 2020 the AFA board focused on upgrading the entire fish pen complex. Systematically, each year two cages and their dockage were replaced. The new pens incorporated some innovative designs not seen in earlier versions, and the new dockage was constructed out of aluminum framing with weather-resistant poly decking for longevity and low maintenance.
In 2025 the AFA board decided to step up the timeline: instead of replacing two pens, all four of the remaining pens were completed. Organizers pointed out that the project was finished a year ahead of schedule thanks to AFA members, donors, funding from the Plumas County Fish and Game Commission and construction efforts by Bill Ng of Diamond Fabrication and his crew. The result: a modern, low-maintenance, state-of-the-art fish-rearing complex.
Organizational growth
Over the years, AFA membership has increased. The summer Founders Barbecue has grown from perhaps 100 folks in the early days to over 500 now, say organizers.
AFA depends solely on donations and fundraising efforts. This income allows the AFA to buy fish food, replace old pens and support the community. The organization that originally set out to raise fish for the enhancement of the fishery at Lake Almanor has now expanded to support the area in other ways: It offers a scholarship program to support local graduating high school students, as well as fishing programs for veterans and youth.
AFA has also developed a presence locally in the community and can be found supporting many events including working with the Almanor Basin Food Pantry’s Chester Community Supper and on matters of food insecurity.
The Almanor Fishing Association is currently seeking new volunteers to join the fish feeding team. “Do you love Lake Almanor, the water, the wildlife, the fish, the community and enjoy spending time outdoors?” ask organizers. “If you have an hour or more weekly from October to May and would like to join others in the feeding and care of the 60,000 fish housed in the fish pen complex at Hamilton Branch we want to hear from you.”
Those interested can contact AFA at [email protected]. Almanor Fishing Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, with tax ID No. 68-029702.
