2025-06-23
Lake Almanor Fishing Report | June 23
Plumas County
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Lake Almanor
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Water Conditions
Weather
Mostly beautiful weather, but some cold, windy days due to a low-pressure system. Northeast winds caused rough conditions on parts of the lake.
Water Temp
Generally upper 60s °F, spiking into low 70s °F on sunny, calm days. Recently around 67 °F after a cool spell.
Water Clarity
Good
Water Flow
About three feet below full pool
Fishing Overview
Target Species
Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
Depth Range
Offshore zones, staging in deeper water before moving shallower during the Hex hatch
Presentation
Trolling, both high-speed hardware and slow-trolling finesse techniques
Best Time
Last hour of light into darkness, particularly during the Hex hatch
Successful Lures
High-speed hardware: Optimizer Juniors, Trigger Spoons
Colors: Chartreuse and gold, red, red-and-copper, Wonderbread pattern
Slow-trolling finesse: Soft plastic grubs with Goomba garlic scent
Other Techniques
Slow finesse trolling with soft plastics when conditions allowed; high-speed trolling during windy conditions
Guide’s Tips & Notes
Advice for This Week
Keep an eye on the weather. If it’s calm, try slow finesse trolling with soft plastics scented with garlic, especially near areas seeing Hex hatch activity.
During windy conditions, switch to high-speed trolling with brightly colored hardware.
Watch for Hex hatch shucks on the surface in the mornings to gauge hatch intensity from the night before.
Changes We’re Seeing
A significant Hex hatch is underway, drawing fish to specific west shore zones from Canyon Dam up to Almanor West.
Cooler temps and wind have softened the bite on certain days, but conditions are overall still solid.
Predictions for Next Week
As weather stabilizes and summer patterns strengthen, expect fishing to improve. The Hex hatch will continue to drive trout activity, so fishing should rebound quickly after this little weather bump.