Lake Almanor Fishing Report

The fall bite continues to roll on here at Lake Almanor. Anglers all over the lake are reporting great trout action, though there have not been many boats out on the water. Most mornings have started off cool giving way to some pretty nice conditions as the sun comes over Dyer Mountain. We do have a little weather system currently moving through the area that expected to bring some clouds, rain and wind to the Almanor basin. The lake level continues to drop and currently sits at 4484 or 10 feet below full pool. Water temperature is now running in the mid to upper 50’s. The trout are scattered throughout the lake, with most of them choosing to focus on the lake’s pond smelt as their primary food source. Most all areas of the lake are producing fish. East shore, west shore, both sides of the peninsula, up north in the shallows, just spin the wheel and pick a spot. Trolling, jigging, bait fishing and fly fishing are all producing great results. Fly anglers are on the fish running smelt imitating flies casting to eagerly feeding fish. Trollers are focusing their attention from the surface to 30 feet with a variety of offerings and techniques to tempt fish. Slow trolled (1.5 mph or less) worms, plastics and trolling flies are all solid choices.  Dodgers can be added to all of the above to provide more flash and action. Faster trolled offerings like spoons in red and gold along with bait fish patterns are also connecting with fish in the same range. Bait anglers are seeing success during the mornings at various stops along the east shore, the peninsula and the west shore with reports of some quality fish being taken. Crawlers are the preferred offerings fished close to the bottom. For shore bound anglers probably the best option is still Hamilton Branch, although the bite in the coves along the west shore continues to build heading into the cooler months. Remember when fishing Hamilton or any other location, pack out what you pack in. Anglers working jigs are hooking some impressive fish in all the areas previously mentioned. FishHawks, Gringos along with metal jigs are all connecting. The catch continues to be mixed bag of Rainbows, including some very impressive specimens, along with Browns showing their fall colors. The Canyon Dam boat ramp is open and the only useable public access launch as the west shore USFS ramp has closed.