​ Each year, during the summer, I move the boat from Almanor over to Bucks Lake to get my customers in on the Kokanee action in what has been dubbed "Kokanee Fest".

Kokanee Fest revolves around beautiful mornings spent chasing fish and having a good time onboard the boat. Good fish, good people, good conversations all in a gorgeous mountain setting makes for a fun day on the water.

This year, from the moment I arrived in late July, it was clear that 2026 would be a little different. The water levels at Bucks Lake were dramatically lower than normal for this time of year. Bucks Lake is a PGE reservoir, and drawdowns are not uncommon during the fall months as they make room for incoming winter rain and snow and the following spring runoff, but that generally doesn't start until September. This year PGE announced that they would be lowering the lake level well below seasonal averages to make way for repairs to the dam face along with the boat ramp in Haskins Valley. To get ahead of this they began larger releases at the end of July. If you are planning a fall trip to Bucks Lake, please see the notice below.

For many years, it has been well documented that large sudden water releases from the dam at Bucks will turn a solid Kokanee bite fickle. This year's water pulls had the fish just a little confused, which basically gave is conditions that were consistently inconsistent with the bite changing one day to the next. Early on, it was business as usual with early limits and plenty of action. Each morning was a guessing game; would the bite be hot or not. Changing gear, depths and speed had little effect on the tougher days, the most effective course of action was to keep the productive gear in their face and grind on them.

While on the hunt for the Kokanee it is not uncommon the catch some of the additional species in the lake, this year including Mackinaw and Rainbow Trout in a variety of sizes.

Several days this year I had the opportunity to purposely seek out some of the lake's Mackinaw population. Jigging up large fish on extremely light tackle is a blast.

While the other species in the lake did provide us with some fun, the main target day in and day out was Kokanee.

The Kokanee of Bucks Lake are a 100% self-sustaining, renewable resource and the best eating things that swim in the Sierra waters. Grilled, smoked or canned the beautiful meat of these fish can be enjoyed as the main dish, as hors devours in dips or on salads, the possibilities are endless.  Check out my Kokanee Canning Tutorial.​

 A big thank you to everyone who came out to Kokanee Fest 2026 it was my pleasure to have you all onboard. Also, a big shout out and thank you to the owners and staff at Bucks Lake Camp and RV for having me. This is a cool campground with some fun weekly activities going on. Depending on conditions, look for Kokanee Fest to take place the first two weeks of August in 2027.

How is it June already, the month of May passed in the blink of an eye and spring fishing here at Lake Almanor just kept rolling along. The weather dealt us a little bit of everything throughout May, but overall conditions were pretty nice. As expected, the aquatic bug hatches that developed in April only got stronger over the last month, grabbing more attention from the fish. Fish are very opportunistic feeders, and when you have the volume of bugs that we do here at Almanor, it is easy to see how these fish stay so well fed. Most of the trips over the last month have focused on areas where the bug hatches are prevalent, primarily in the west basin of the lake. Areas like Red Bank and Almanor West have been holding a bunch of "hot" Rainbows, a few Browns and an occasional salmon and thanks to the high protein bug diet, the fish fighting strong and fast with hard takedowns and some exciting aerial action. It has been hard to beat the highspeed hardware game for the last month. Spoons in the brighter colors, reds, yellows, coppers and orange have all been scoring hook-ups, most of the time in the top 20 feet of the water column. While much of my time recently has been spent over 3 miles per hour, I have been slowing things down, when appropriate, to more precisely target some of these bug eating fish.  The lake level is currently 2.5 feet from full and has changed little over the last several weeks. The water here at the lake is looking fantastic, with surface temperatures running in the low to mid 60's depending on the time of day and your location on the lake, and as much as 15 feet of visibility in some areas. The much-anticipated Hex hatch is showing early signs of getting under way. I have seen Hex larvae in fish for close to a month now, and recently a few flies have been surfacing along the west shore in the evenings. All in all, it is an exciting time of year here at Almanor with lot of fishy options. The calendar is getting full, June looks to be fully booked and July filling quickly as well. Don't miss your chance to get in on some of the best spring/summer trout fishing California has to offer. Check the Booking Calendar for openings and Contact Us Now to reserve your dates. Also on the horizon is Kokanee Fest 2026 at Bucks Lake currently scheduled for 7/30-8/20. There are just a few days left open to get in on this exciting Sockeye action, Contact Us today for more information or to reserve your spot. I look forward to seeing you on the water.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Bryan Roccucci

​April 2026 is in the books and May is off to a rip-roaring start. Following an unusually warm and mild March, April felt a little more normal with some cooler temperatures and some precipitation here in the Almanor basin. Early April had me continuing to focus on shallow pond smelt eating fish at various locations around the lake. The peninsula started producing as the muddy water from Hamilton Branch cleared. The east shore provided some great action in April, again these were mostly shallow fish focused on the lake's pond smelt population. To that end, most of the time on the water it was either plugs or soft plastics that were scoring fish. As we progressed through the month of April and things started to warm, the aquatic bugs began to get active. This is an exciting time of the season as the warming waters, and the pure bug protein diet promotes high energy and bad attitudes of these fish. Hard charging takedowns followed by powerful runs and plenty of arial activity are happening on a daily basis, with the bite the last several weeks being red-hot. The last few weeks have been lots of high-speed spoon action, but from time to time, when the conditions are right, I am still slowing things down to target some of the smelt eating fish. The lake is in great spring shape, sitting 3 feet from full pool and slowly on the rise. Water temps have been in the low 50's with small fluctuations based on the weather and the wind. This is prime time spring trout fishing conditions.
The calendar is getting full, leaving only a few days left available in this month of May and June filling quickly as well. Don't miss your chance to get in on some of the best spring trout fishing California has to offer. Check the Booking Calendar for openings and Contact Us Now to reserve your dates. I look forward to seeing you on the water.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Bryan Roccucci

We said goodbye to the month of March and some interesting fishing. Much of March was marked by beautiful, windless days that featured above average temps, and not by a little either, we are talking way above average temperatures. Early in the month, the warm weather spurred elevated flows on all the lake's tributaries including Hamilton Branch which pumped liquid that looked more like chocolate milk than water. This muddy water spread from the mouth to basically the tip of the peninsula making it unfishable. This meant finding locations with better water conditions along the east and west shores to focus our efforts. Thankfully, the water along the eastern side of the peninsula has cleared giving way to some outstanding fishing. The warmer than usual conditions also jumped the water temps up by 5 or more degrees above average which have resulted in early aquatic bug hatches, changing the diets of some of the trout from pond smelt to insects. The smallies seem to respond to the warmer temps as well, coming out of their deeper haunts and moving into the shallows. The Rainbows in the lake also seemed to enjoy the mild conditions as evidenced by our higher-than-average catch numbers throughout the last month. With March behind us, April has started off feeling a little more normal, cooler temperatures and even some rain in the Almanor basin. This precipitation, in combination with the winds will strip off some of that surface temp and reset the lake just a little bit before warmer conditions return over the course of the next week. The added moisture is welcomed after our less than average winter and will help with water levels and quality. The current lake level is just about 5 feet from full pool and has actually dropped a couple of inches over the last two weeks. I continue to target fish mainly feeding on pond smelt from the surface down to about 20 feet with a mix of fast and slow trolling techniques as conditions warrant. This means everything from plugs to soft plastics and flies on the toplines as well as the downriggers to tempt these beautiful fish. All in all, 2026, my 28th season, is off to a pretty good start here at Lake Almanor, I'm looking forward to this exciting spring bite to roll right through April. Thank you to everyone that came on board in March, I couldn't do this without your support. The calendar is getting full, leaving only a few days left available in this month of April. Don't miss your chance to get in on some of the best spring trout fishing California has to offer. Check the Booking Calendar for openings and Contact Us Now to reserve your dates. I look forward to seeing you on the water.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Bryan Roccucci

​​Flag Island, which is officially Goose Island, located in the western basin of Lake Almanor in front of Prattville. This rocky outcropping once rose from the meadow along the Feather River channel and only became an island as it was surrounded by the rising waters of Lake Almanor. When the present-day lake is full or near full it isn't even an island at all, but just a shallow spot marked by a ring of white buoys.  Sometime in the early 1990's, someone placed a galvanized pipe flagpole on the highest point of Goose Island and hung an American Flag on it. The flag would fly day in and day out throughout the year enduring all mother nature had to throw at it. Coming out of winter into spring each year the flag would be tattered and torn then, as if by magic, a new flag would replace the old one. This cycle carried on year after year until 2021, that spring the flag didn't get changed. 

​As the island and the flag had become the backdrop for the Almanor Fishing Association's annual Veteran's Fishing Day boat parade, volunteers from AFA assembled at the island the afternoon before the event and changed out the flag for the first time, a tradition that continues to this day. Who originally placed the flag and why remains a mystery. Many stories have surfaced about who and why the flag was placed, but always second and third hand accounts that didn't proof out. Over the years, the island has, most likely, had several "flag keepers", for instance, in 2013 the task was undertaken by seasonal guests of Wilson's Camp Prattville. Were you involved in placing or changing the flag on "Flag Island"? Contact Us

Lake Almanor Browns and Rainbows - Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall this lake is a fish factory and the top trophy trout destination in Northern California. ​Want to spend a day on the water, catch fish, hunt trophies, catch and release, each trip is custom, and personally designed to fit your needs. Valet service departure and return available to your private dock or resort.  Check the Booking Calendar and get on the books before your dates are gone.

Bucks Lake Kokanee Fest - This year happening 7/31/26 - 8/13/26. The best eating fish that swim in Sierra waters, and these Kokanee trips take advantage of a completely self-sustaining population at Bucks Lake. Want to load up, the daily limit on Kokanee at Bucks Lake is 10 fish per person. This is a popular one, and only has a few days left available. (I may open up additional dates once the initial days are filled) Check the Booking Calendar and get on the books before your dates are gone.

Eagle Lake Rainbows - Fall is a fantastic time of year to fish and nowhere more so that Eagle Lake. This is Nor-Cal fly trolling for hot Rainbows at its finest. The Eagle Lake Trout are also one of California's Heritage Trout, originally found native only in Eagle Lake. As the water cools, the fish move into the shallows and ramp up their feeding prior to winter. Typically, I have limited days in October, (October dates are still TBD based on demand. Don't hesitate to reach out via the Date Request Form and I will put a block of trips together.) then spend the first three weeks of November at Eagle in Fish Camp. ​Check the Booking Calendar and get on the books before your dates are gone.

2025 was another great one, filled with memorable moments and amazing fish on the boat. I would like to thank everyone who came out last year for making my 28th season a success. Your continued support is very much appreciated. As I kick off my 29th season of guiding these trips, I am looking forward to seeing my old friends and customers but also to welcoming many newcomers onboard. Come, take a trip and see what these beautiful lakes and fisheries have to offer. I look forward to seeing you on the water in 2026.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Bryan

 We also took some time in late June to welcome nearly 180 United States Veterans to the 8th annual Almanor Fishing Association's Veteran's Fishing Day held each year the Saturday following Father's Day. A big shout out and thank you to all the volunteers that turn out to make this the premier veterans fishing event on the west coast. A special thank you to my wife Brenda who did a ton behind the scenes helping to make this happen. While the weather was less than perfect, a good time was had by all. Mother nature gave us just enough of a break to pull off a fantastic boat parade at flag island and the BBQ at Rec 1. 

Then July came calling. We had a rocking good time in Chester on the 4th at the Almanor Fishing Association booth, and once the crowds cleared from the holiday weekend it was back to fishing, and as usual, Almanor did not disappoint. It was a mix of Browns and Bows, sometimes more of one than the other depending on where we fished. In addition to the normal aquatic bug load, these fish had the Hex flies and their larvae to feast on.

Of course, the last Saturday in July means the most popular fundraiser in the Almanor basin, The Almanor Fishing Association's Founders' BBQ at Rec 1.  Again, a big thank you to all the volunteers and my fellow AFA board members who dedicated countless hours to making this year's event a record setting success. During the event, I was surprised by long-time customers and big AFA supporters the Rollofsons and Hintons, as they presented me with a beautiful handmade antiqued American Flag. Thanks guys.

As July came to a close and August got started it was time to head to Bucks Lake for Kokanee Fest 2025. Each year I spend several weeks in the summer at Bucks Lake for the annual Kokanee harvest. For those of you who may not be familiar with them, Kokanee are freshwater Sockeye Salmon and the best eating things that swim in the Sierra lakes. The bite was wild with a lot of action and a lot of fish in the net. Grilled, smoked or canned these tasty fish can't be beat.

Following Kokanee Fest, it was back to Almanor to finish up the month. The mixed bite continued, with Browns, Bows and a few nice Kings all hitting the nets.  By this time many of the fish have moved back to a pond smelt diet so we adjusted accordingly. This has been one of the best late summer bites in recent memory, and it is continuing right into September. If you are looking to get in on this action, contact me soon, just a few days left available in September and October for Almanor. Contact us now to reserve your dates.

So, what does the future have in store? Well, I will continue running trips at Almanor for the next several months as well as mixing in some exciting Eagle Lake trips. Fall is prime time to hit Eagle Lake for the "big shouldered", hard charging Eagle Lake Rainbows. There are only a few days left for the mid-September and mid-October trips, following those, the next openings are during the first and second weeks of November. Contact us now to reserve your dates.

Well, that is a quick look back at some of this summer's highlights. Thank you again for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you on the water. Tight Lines!
Capt. Bryan Roccucci

​     The spring-time Brown Trout hunt is on! These are fast paced, fun filled exciting fishing trips in search of "Almanor Gold" where the rewards can be huge. There are still some dates available, so don't miss out Book Your Trip Now!
     Lake Almanor offers Northern California's most prolific trophy trout producing waters. Almanor, as a rule, features all the necessary ingredients to grow and maintain this outstanding population of fish, and this year is no different. Here we are, just a couple of days away from the first day of spring and the lake is in great shape. Water levels are up, giving us and the fish plenty of room to hunt. The water quality is looking good as well with clarity, once diminished by early year heavy flows, now good and improving every day. 
     Recent trips have produced almost exclusively Browns with only a couple Rainbows in the mix. The fish have ranged in size from 3 pounds to well over the double-digit mark.

     We encourage catch and release of these beautiful fish, it is one of the reasons the population and the quality of these fish in Almanor has not only maintained but actually increased. Sadly, not every fish can be released but we make every effort to return them to the water safely.  Propper handling and care will ensure the fishes survival for the future. Remember let's Keep Almanor Brown.

     Let’s begin with some background; A Golden Mussel or Limnoperna fortunei is a medium sized bivalve mollusk that lives in fresh and brackish water. Originally native to China, it has been introduced to other countries around the world including several in Asia and South America where it has proven to be an invasive species. Golden Mussels are small, usually less than an inch and a half in length, with shells that range from a light golden to yellowish-brown to brown in color. The mussels are generally found firmly attached to hard or semi-hard surface found in the water such as pilings and concrete infrastructure. Golden Mussels are filter feeders that consume very small organisms and organic matter. Each mature mussel is capable of filtering one liter of water in a 24-hour period, with their colonies able to reach densities of 80,000 to 200,000 individuals per square meter, they can have significant impacts to ecosystems.

    The calendar might still say summer but it is beginning to feel a lot like fall here at Lake Almanor. The cooler overnight temperatures have the water temps dropping, and the fish are turning their attention away from the bugs and gorging on the lake's population of pond smelt. This fall trend makes for some incredible action on board as the fish get increasingly more aggressive while feeding up before winter. Depending on the fish and conditions recent trips have found us offshore running both the fast and slow gear at various locations along the east shore and both sides of the peninsula for a mix of Bows and Browns from 2 to over 8 pounds. Look for this trend to continue as we wrap up the summer and move squarely into fall. Visit the Booking Calendar to check availability and book your trip. 

     It has been a great summer for Kokanee at Bucks Lake and there is one last day available the first week of September. (Tuesday 9/3). Fat and feisty Kokanee are the best eating fish that swim in the Sierras.  Visit the Booking Calendar to check availability and book your trip.

     Eagle Lake is a priority stop in the fall for all trout fishing enthusiasts. As in years past, Big Daddy's Guide Service will be running limited trips in September (one day left available), October (one day left available) and November.  ​Visit the Booking Calendar to check availability and book your trip.