Fishing at Lake Almanor

Lake Almanor is home to rainbow and brown trout, king salmon, and small mouth bass, along with other species such as catfish and smelt.

Where to Fish on Lake Almanor

In the spring when the water in Lake Almanor begins to warm, fishing really picks up. Anglers do well on either side of the peninsula and around at Big Springs Cove. Trolling and shore fishing are good along the east shore and by the dam. Another productive spot is near the jetties by to the Forest Service boat ramp on the west shore.

More good places to fish around Lake Almanor include by the powerhouse, the jetties at Prattville, and the Hamilton Branch and other river or stream inlets. Bass hide out by the stumps on the south shore and the rocky banks on the north side. Catfish gather near the causeway and naturally at Catfish Beach.

Trophy Fish from Lake Almanor

Rainbow Trout - 10 pounds, 4 ounces
Brown Trout - 16 pounds, 1988
King Salmon - 11 pounds, 13 ounces, 1991

Which Baits and Lures are Catching Fish at Lake Almanor?

Trout

Salmon Eggs, Rooster Tails, Kastmasters Spoons,
PowerBait, Marshmallows, Small Spoons and Spinners,
Flatfish, Mealworms, Crickets

Bass

Spinnerbait, Crayfish, Plastic Worms, Yamamoto Senko
Rapalas, Mepps Double Blade Aglia

King Salmon

Needlefish lures, green and fire tiger colors of J-Plugs, large spoons

Catfish

Nightcrawlers, Chicken Livers, Clams, Anchovies

Fly Fishing

The Hexagenia hatch begins in late June and runs through early July. Try woolly buggers, birds nest, hexagennia spinner, seal buggers, hex nymphs

Lake Almanor Fish Pens

Lake Almanor receives regular fish planting during the fishing season. It also has a pen-rearing program located near the Hamilton Branch where king salmon and rainbow trout are raised. As many as 150,000 salmon fingerlings and 55,000 rainbows are released into the lake each year.

The main forage fish in Lake Almanor is the Japanese pond smelt which was originally planted there several decades ago, quickly replacing the native kokanee. Because the trout and salmon feed on the smelt, techniques using jigs, sliver spoons, and tube lures are especially successful. Spin casting bait works well, too. Among the most popular baits are red salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, and crickets.