Lake Almanor is one of Northern California s largest Lakes, and it's beauty is only surpassed by its solid year round fishing. At the 4500 ft. elevation, and Mt. Lassen watching over it, Lake Almanor is one of California's most diverse fisheries. Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Big Browns, Chinook Salmon, even Catfish are here in good numbers, and size too. Trophy size trout are caught every day somewhere on this lake..

My name is Doug Neal and I guide Lake Almanor exclusively. I live here year round and have learned a lot about this lake in the years I have been here. I don't know everything there is to know about Almanor, but I fish this lake about 150 days a year, and have logged thousands of hours and miles on Almanor, and do rather well fishing here.

Lake Almanor has 55 miles of shoreline and covers about 30,000 surface acres. 13 miles long and 6 miles wide this lake is divided into large sections by the Almanor Peninsula. The West section is shallow and warms first in the spring and continues to warm into summer. That's when the aquatic food chain first kicks into action, triggering the famous Hex Hatch and the less famous Blood Midge Hatch. But what really drives the big fish at Almanor it the fresh water pond smelt, also known as Tui Chub, which reproduce naturally and in large numbers. Trout, Salmon and Bass have plenty to eat. The West section of Almanor has the North Fork of the Feather River, several seasonal creeks and many large springs that supply cool, oxygenated water.

Studies of Almanor's annual water quality samplings has shown that Lake Almanor's high water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels below thirty feet is limited and explains why large numbers of fish concentrate around the mouth of these tributaries and especially the springs. There are dozens of springs at Almanor, many just a trickle and generally unknown to most, and several larger, well known Springs that gush out water all season.

As the water slowly warms the West side the trout move out, then Smallmouth Bass fishing really turns on. Lots of islands ,stumps, ledges and the rocky shoreline along the peninsula make the bass guys all smiles with lots of smallies over 4 lbs.

The East section of Almanor is the deep side of the lake. Its main tributary is the Hamilton Branch and Big Springs, and it's the best area to fish during the warmer part of summer and early Fall. Fishing pressure is at its peak during the summer months as Almanor's warmer surface temps bring out the boat traffic.

As the surface warms, the fish go down searching for that comfort zone we all know as the Thermocline. Downrigging, Jigging or good old fashion bait fishing will help you get to where the fish are holding, providing you have a good fishfinder. Of course toplining in the morning is good also but the fish will go down after the sun begins to hit the water and a few wakeboard boats go by. However, as Summer exits and Fall slides in, when most folks have burned there vacation hours and the kids head back to school. this place becomes placid. Fishing pressure is light or completely nonexistent.

Fishing here is always good but during the Fall season the fishing is really the best, and it's just starting. Some of the biggest fish will be caught from October and into December. Big Eagle Lake Strain Rainbow Trout and Salmon slash through the bait schools feeding voraciously on the Tui Chub. The water is cooling fast and fish are back on the surface all morning and into early afternoon feeding at every chance. By now the bait is everywhere along the East side of the Peninsula up to Big Springs and the entire East Shore all the way to the Dam.

However, the best part about the Fall Season is, without a doubt, the Brown Trout. No other fish at Almanor captures the imagination of the serious angler than those golden, big shouldered, bruisers that we have here at Almanor. Strong, thick, square tailed monsters with big teeth are the king fish here and now is their time. The dominate predator is the Almanor Brown. Browns start moving in this time of year. Spawning activity has started as the big boys fight underwater battles for the right to mate. Several browns we boated this fall have signs of battle about their heads and shoulders. Browns averaging 4 lbs. are common and some have gone over ten pounds. They too are feeding on Tui Chubs but some hit out of pure aggression if a jig gets too close to the nest. In summary, the Almanor fishery continues to be one of the top notch trophy trout and Smallmouth Bass lakes in the state, and what I have shared with you is just a thumbnail sketch, but I think you get the picture. I hope you get a chance to fish Lake Almanor sometime, and see for yourself its combination of excellent fishing in a beautiful setting. And if you do head this way and would like some current input contact me at www.almanorfishingadventures.com.

Professional Guide Doug Neal

www.almanorfishingadvesntures.com

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