Fishing Season: Year round

Lake Almanor - CA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

65

Joe Garza's Tip of the Week

Trout are starting to look up at floating pond smelt again. Start early with a 12 foot monofilament leader and a floating pond smelt (#8) stripping erratically. Use a loop knot to your pond smelt this will cause it to act more sporactic as you strip, getting more attention.

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Map of Lake Almanor

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

J.A.G. Fly Fishing

5-Day Outlook as of 9/10/26

The surface bite has been slow all summer due to water temps. However, with this onset of cooler weather those water temps have dropped. The fish are now starting to get active and look for pond smelt. We have seen pods of trout actively working pods of pond smelt on the surface early in the mornings. Once the sun comes up high on the water the trout put down and start feeding subsurface. Floating pond smelt (#8) have been producing well in the morning, with balanced Leeches (#10/8) and Chironomids (#12/14) producing subsurface later in the morning hours. Intermediate lines have been productive for brown trout using a sinking pond smelt (#6/8)

Techniques & Tips as of 9/10/26

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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Item #5E3L

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

Best Time to Fish:

7am to 11am

Best Stretch:

Prattville

Best Access:

USDF Launch West Shore.