Fishing Season: Year round

Lake Almanor - CA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

77

Joe Garza's Tip of the Week

Unusual high temperatures the last several week, plus very little snow this winter has the lake temperatures elevated. With the high surface temperatures fishing later into the day is out, as it is too hot to catch and release.

Directions open in app

Map of Lake Almanor

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

J.A.G. Fly Fishing

5-Day Outlook as of 8/20/26

Mornings are still fishing well, until around 9:00am. We are seeing roughly 10 fish to the net. We are fishing inlets and springs however, water temps jump around 9am. Balanced leeches(#8/10 in tan and orange) and Chironomid (#12 in red and black). Stripping pond smelt patterns (#8) in the surface or with an intermediate line is also becoming increasingly productive.

Techniques & Tips as of 8/20/26

Indicator nymphing, Intermediate, Dry Fly, Full sink.

Local Species Available Year round

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    Brown Trout

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Chinook Salmon

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    Sacramento Perch

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    Carp Chinook

Joe Garza's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Real McCoy Foam Belly Hex N/A 8
Woolly Bugger Olive, Tan 8
Mad Bomber Chironomid Black 10
Bead Body Scud White 6, 8
Living Damsel Olive 10
Spotlight Caddis Emerger Olive,Tan 12, 14
Balanced Leech Black, Rust, Olive 8
Blood Midge Red, Olive, Tan 10, 12
Milt's Pond Smelt White/Grey 8
Gray's Stillborn Hex N/A 6

Real McCoy Foam Belly Hex

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Joe Garza's Recommended Gear

Description: About Lake Almanor

Lake Almanor offers great Stillwater fishing opportunities year-round. Located just two hours and fifteen minutes from Reno Nevada and two hours from Redding California Lake Almanor was formed when Canyon Dam was completed in 1914, and boasts a healthy populations of trophy brown trout, trophy rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and Chinook Salmon. Lake Almanor is fed by Bailey Creek, Hamilton Branch, Benner Creek, Last Chance Creek, and Upper North Fork Feather River, as well as springs throughout the lake. These springs and tributaries help keep Lake Almanor waters cool during the hotter summer months. The cooler water and plentiful aquatic insect populations help these fish thrive and grow big fast. The average size of fish here is 18” – 22”, however, we catch 24” – 30” fish here consistently. Lake Almanor is the perfect place to learn advanced Stillwater techniques as we chase the hatches. April through May we fish for Smallmouth Bass. May through July we chase brown trout and rainbow trout during the Chironomid hatch. In June and July, we have the famous Hexagenia hatch. August into September we target Browns and rainbows with Damselflies. September through October we have the floating leech and floating pond smelt hatches. December through February the hatches slow, so we use advanced subsurface techniques to entice fish.

Nearest Airport:

Reno-Tahoe International Airport

Hatches:

Leeches, Pond Smelt, Chironomids, Damsels, Mayflies, Daphnia, Crawfish, Caddis.

Best Time to Fish:

5am to 9am

Best Stretch:

Hamilton Branch

Best Access:

Canyon Dam