Alright trout fishing fin addicts it's late spring at Almanor, bugs are popping and fish are biting. In recent weeks we have been fishing all over the lake but the bulk of our action has come north of the tip of the peninsula. It has been a combination of fast hardware and slow fished crawlers, from the surface to 20 feet, that have been consistently putting fish in the boat. Some days one technique has worked all day and other days we have been splitting our time starting out fast then working slow later in the morning. There are plenty of fish out there but at the same time there is more than enough food to keep them happy. The fish, mostly big thick stout Rainbows to 6 pounds, a few Browns to 5 pounds, King Salmon running 17 to 20 inches and even a monster Sacramento Perch (see the picture below) are currently stuffing themselves with all the aquatic bugs they can eat. It may take a few passes over fish before they hook up but being persistent has been key to our success. The combination of fish moving around as the hatches come off coupled with this current unstable weather can have the bite a little up and down, but overall it has been pretty solid and looks to continue. The are only a few open days over the course of the next few weeks, if you want to get in on some of this action don't wait, contact us asap to lock down your trip.

​We also have been venturing to a few other lakes in addition to Almanor in recent weeks and have found some fantastic action. Stay tuned for more trophy trout action and future reports coming soon.

Also, lets take a moment this weekend, while out enjoying the fishing, camping and spending time with family and friends, to remember all those who served and sacrificed.


Tight Lines! 

It is spring time here at Lake Almanor and that means big hot Rainbow Trout. These fish are hot and nasty while on the lines making big runs, diving under the boat, and generally putting up some fantastic battles. There is no shortage of food for these fish as spring time bug hatches are well underway and the fish are stuffed with them. This time of year they also seem to develop a taste for bright metal lures run fast. The combination of the faster boat speed and aggressive attitudes of the fish make for some wild hookups. It's not entirely a Rainbow show, there are a few quality Browns in the mix as well as some King Salmon with all the fish running 2.5 to 6.5 pounds. We have more nice weather in the forecast and that will only increase the water temps (currently in the low to mid 50's depending on time of day and location) and the bug activity. Look for the solid spring action to continue as we move deeper into this month. There are a few days available in the upcoming weeks but not many, contact us today and book your fishing adventure.

Well the weather continues to be somewhat unsettled here at Lake Almanor. One minute it's spring, the next it's back to winter. Water temps have been all over the place from the mid 40's to almost the mid 50's on several flat sunny afternoons. All of these spring storms have ensured Almanor, as well as many other lakes, will have a good supply of water to get us through the season with good fishing. The changing weather is also having an effect on our fishing and the locations and techniques used. We are still catching some nice browns, including a beautiful on the put up a fantastic battle yesterday, before freeing himself prior to the net. The one that got away! Also in the mixed bag are Rainbows, Salmon and some nice Smallmouth, and I guess even Cutthroat. (See picture of Jeff's fish below with close up of bottom jaw) The fish are not holding in any particular areas in big numbers, so as in weeks past we are still covering a lot of water. Locations on the west shore, east shore, areas on both sides of the peninsula and even up north have all given up fish to us. It is just a matter of reading the conditions on a daily basis. The plugs are still producing, however we are starting to see signs that the usually hot spring Rainbow bite could be just around the corner. Time to polish up the hardware.

If you haven't already seen it check out the latest video of what we have been up to.

Spring time is rolling on here at Lake Almanor, and if April showers bring May flowers then we are going to have a bunch next month. Currently we are catching multiple species around the lake including Browns to 7.5 pounds, Bows to 5.5 pounds, Kings Salmon to 3.2 pounds, and even some pretty nice Smallmouth Bass up to 4 pounds. Many areas of the lake are holding fish and in order to stay on them we are covering a bunch of water, as the fish cruise the lake in search of food. The water temps are still cool mainly in the mid 40's and subject to change as we have a storm moving in here to Northern California. Cool temps mean fish are shallow, and this is the time of year to intercept some fantastic fish on shallow gear. It is simply amazing how hard these fish crush the plugs. Look for this shallow spring bite to continue and at some point I'm sure we will get back to more traditional spring time pattern and warming temps. Want to get in on this Trophy Trout action? There are a few days available in the upcoming weeks but not many, contact us today and book your fishing adventure.

Following a beautiful day out on the water (several days back) lol we cruised up Hamilton Branch where we met the esteemed President of the Almanor Fishing Association John Crotty. John was kind enough to give my clients a tour of the fish rearing cages and allow them to feed the fish.  This is the oldest in lake pen program in the state having been operated for 35 years by AFA and funded by membership dues, donations and fundraising efforts and staffed by AFA volunteers.

Mother nature just wont let winter give way to spring. Despite the onslaught of weather fronts moving through Northern California the bite at Lake Almanor has remained pretty good with some good quality fish showing. We continue to catch a mix of Browns Bows and Kings at various areas around the lake. With current conditions the fish are somewhat scattered and covering a lot of water seems to be the key to finding them. We have moved on from the flies and are now focusing on the spring plug bite. These fish absolutely crush the plugs with a good number going aerial on the initial hit.  The fish are fat and healthy (see the pictures) and giving some fantastic battles in the sub 40 degree water. Look for the bite to intensify as we are scheduled to have a dryer, warmer, more stable weather week coming up.

The waters of Lake Almanor are ever changing and recently they have been bouncing between winter and spring conditions, sometimes all in the same day. Recent charters have seen numbers of Almanor's big three, Browns, Bows, and Kings coming into the net. We have managed to catch fish in just about every corner of the lake using a variety of methods, including flies and plugs. Ever get the feeling that you are the only boat on the lake? Well that is an everyday occurrence right now, we are not seeing many people on the water. Currently we are getting a pretty good whack from the weather man which is a good thing for the up-coming water year, more snow pack means more cool water flowing into the lakes which means better fishing. Lake Almanor is just getting started and the fishing will continue to expand from good to over the top as we move further into the year. If you are thinking about a trip this spring, don't wait, contact me today about getting you dates secured for this exciting fishery.

Hit the water the other day with friends Kevin and Joe aboard Kevin's boat to test the waters and stretch some lines. The lake level is doing pretty good considering the lack of winter we have had. we were greater with a beautiful sunrise and flat calm conditions.

Water temps are a little ahead of normal due to the unseasonably nice weather, ranging from 40 to 42 depending on when and where we were. We covered a lot of water mainly in the east basin and found the fish on a pretty solid bite landing a mix of Browns and Bows to about 3.5 pounds fishing custom plugs. Look for the bite to only improve as we head further into the month.

BTW it just so happened I was wearing the appropriate hat from my friends at ReelWorld Gear
​Tight Lines

After more than 16 years plying the waters of Northeastern California and untold thousands of fish over the rails it was time to show the Boulton some love. In addition to what you see in the video the boat got a canvas top tune up from Scott at Martins Canvas, new non-skid paint on the bow, an LED lighting upgrade and a few other odds and ends to get her ready for and fantastic 2018 fishing season.

We are just one week away from the opening of the Sacramento ISE Show. Check us out in booth #3436 in the Pavilion Building. Book 2018 trips at show prices, see pictures and video from our 2017 season and get your BDGS gear, including the new shirts. Book a trip at the show and get a 30oz insulated tumbler.  We look forward to seeing you there.