Reservoir · Mixed · Northern California, US

Lake Almanor

Misty morning at Lake Almanor with a fishing boat at the dock and Mount Lassen rising in the background, Plumas County, California
Fair · Rainbow
Balanced Leech · 8-12
Fairlive now
Reasonable autumn fishing likely at Lake Almanor
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
56% confidence

Lake Almanor is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindN 6 km/hCalm · Gusts to 14 km/h
Today's fly
Balanced Leech
Balanced Leech8-12
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Calm · Gusts to 14 km/h
N 6 km/h
N
N
from the north
WaveRipple
Water temp11.0°C
Air temp8°C
CloudClear
Pressure1022 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Head to
Wind driftNE wind
South-western end

A northeasterly has held for 9 hours, running warmer than the water (16°C air against 11°C water). Expect fish at the south-western end — the bank it is blowing into — where the drift piles food, colour and warmth together. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Lake Almanor well for autumn tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Balanced Leech (8-12) on a As per local method. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Balanced Leech (8-12) on a As per local method. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.

Plan B

A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Either bank or boat

Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
CallibaetisHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Hexagenia (Western)Hatch
2
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Fly box · Rainbow
CH
Chironomid
12-16 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW regulations — verify.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
78%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp100%

A good match for Lake Almanor — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Other water nearby · 5
Butte Lake
35 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Manzanita Lake
44 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Bucks Lake
44 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Antelope Lake
51 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Eagle Lake
56 km
Rainbow trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Misty morning at Lake Almanor with a fishing boat at the dock and Mount Lassen rising in the background, Plumas County, California
    Lake Almanor with Mount Lassen
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
  • Aquatic life: Supporting
  • Fish consumption: Impaired
What this classification means

Fish consumption: Consumption advisory (Mercury) — fish for sport, not the table.

EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Almanor Lake' (CAL5184100020020418094956), 2024 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Fully Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Mercury. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.

Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.

EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · CAL5184100020020418094956

Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Booking & contacts