Lake Almanor Fishing Report | August 25, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
The slow bite came 32 to 41 feet down. On the hardware program, fish sat 38 to 40 feet down.
Presentation
A slow game with Trout Trix minnows worked right where the fish were feeding on pond smelt. When the slow bite backs off, put on hardware and go fast with Optimizer Juniors along the eastern shoreline.
Lures and baits
Trout Trix minnows (Pixie Trixies color) scented with Brown Town scent
Red and copper Optimizer Juniors (fast troll; bright reds and coppers best)
Other techniques
Fast-troll hardware program with Optimizer Junior spoons along the eastern shoreline.
Water temperature
Surface temps in the low 70s.
Water clarity
Good visibility.
Water level
Dropped only about a foot in ten days as the fall drawdown begins.
Weather
Flat water with a lingering heat wave.
Advice for this week
If you do not want to pull slow gear, put on hardware and go fast. Match the small pond smelt the fish are keyed on, and lean on bright reds and coppers when running spoons.
What is changing
Fall drawdown is beginning; the lake has dropped only about a foot in ten days.
Next week
The late summer bite keeps improving as the fall drawdown starts. Bryan begins fly trolling trips at Eagle Lake in mid September.
Notable catch
Two brown trout topping 7 pounds.
Lake Almanor is on fire in late August 2025 with a multi-species bite. Bryan Roccucci had browns to 7 pounds, rainbows over 4, king salmon, and Sacramento perch in a day. Slow-troll a Trix Minnows scented with Brown Town at 32 to 41 feet on the pond smelt bite, or run red and copper Optimizer Juniors at 38 to 40 feet along the east shore.
What is biting at Lake Almanor right now?
A strong multi-species bite. Bryan Roccucci landed browns to 7 pounds, rainbows over 4 pounds, king salmon over 4 pounds, and Sacramento perch in one day, a four-species day plus the Almanor hat-trick. The late-summer bite keeps getting better.
What depth are the Lake Almanor fish holding?
On the slow gear, the fish are 32 to 41 feet down where they are feeding on pond smelt. On the hardware, look 38 to 40 feet along the eastern shoreline. Put the baits right where you mark fish.
What lures and colors are working at Lake Almanor?
Slow-troll a Trix Minnows, the Pixie Trixie ones, scented with Brown Town. For hardware, red and copper Optimizer Juniors are getting smashed. Bright reds and coppers are best, though some anglers score on blue and silver cop-car colors.
How is Bryan Roccucci rigging and presenting?
Two ways. Slow-troll scented Trix Minnows at 32 to 41 feet for the minnow-eating fish, or put on hardware and go faster with red and copper Optimizer Juniors at 38 to 40 feet. Match the program to the day. Trolling speed was not specified in this report.
What are the conditions at Lake Almanor?
Flat water with good visibility and water temps still in the low 70s despite a heat wave. The lake has only dropped about a foot in 10 days as the fall drawdown begins, and it is in fantastic shape.
Watch the full report
Lake Almanor August 25, 2025 FAQ
Brown trout to 7 pounds, rainbows over 4, king salmon over 4, and Sacramento perch, all in one day.
32 to 41 feet on slow-trolled minnows, and 38 to 40 feet on hardware.
A Trix Minnow, the Pixie Trixie style, scented with Brown Town, run where fish are feeding on pond smelt.
Red and copper Optimizer Juniors, with bright reds and coppers best overall.
Still in the low 70s with good visibility, despite a heat wave.
Only about a foot in the last 10 days as the fall drawdown starts. The lake is in fantastic shape.
