Lake Almanor Fishing Report | October 19, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
Surface to 25 feet, down from 35 to 45 feet weeks past. Downriggers 3 to 7 feet down produced; look in the top 10 feet.
Presentation
Mostly the slow game. Pulling Trout Trix Minnows set up with Brown Town scent to match minnow-feeding fish. Fast gear is always an option this time of year, especially in the wind.
Lures and baits
Trout Trix Minnows (5-pack) fished slow with Brown Town scent, matching the pond smelt hatch.
Other techniques
Fast trolling gear is an option this time of year, especially in the wind.
Water temperature
Below 60, holding in the mid to upper 50s
Water clarity
Some water murked up by big wind
Water level
The fall drawdown has stalled and lake level is holding.
Weather
Big wind on a couple of days, a little rain, and a white dusting on Mount Lassen.
Advice for this week
Work the East Shore and the east side of the Peninsula, which are showing significant activity close to the surface. Be ready to pick through smaller fish to get to the better grade.
What is changing
Conditions changed: big wind murked up some water, a little rain moved through, and cooler water pulled a lot of fish shallow.
Next week
As water temperatures keep trending down, look for the shallow pond smelt pattern to hold, with more fish in the top 10 feet through fall.
Lake Almanor trout have moved shallow as water dropped below 60 degrees in mid-October 2025. The bite is now surface to 25 feet along the East Shore and the Peninsula, with downriggers set 3 to 7 feet down. Capt. Bryan Roccucci is slow-trolling Trix Minnows dressed with Brown Town scent to match the pond smelt the trout are feeding on.
What is biting at Lake Almanor right now?
Trout, and the fishing has been good despite wind and light rain stirring the water. Cooler temperatures have pushed a lot of fish shallow. You pick through some smaller fish along the East Shore and Peninsula, but there are plenty of nice ones mixed in.
What depth are the trout holding at Lake Almanor?
Shallow. With water temps below 60 degrees and in the mid to upper 50s, the bite is now surface to 25 feet, a change from the 35 to 45 foot depths of weeks past. Capt. Bryan Roccucci set downriggers 3 to 7 feet down for good action.
What lures and scent are working at Lake Almanor?
Bryan is pulling Trix Minnows set up with Brown Town scent, matching the hatch on trout that are feeding heavily on pond smelt. The slow game has produced the best results this week.
How should I present at Lake Almanor?
Stick with a slow trolling approach to match the pond smelt. Run the Trix Minnow shallow on downriggers set 3 to 7 feet down along the East Shore and Peninsula. Fast gear is always an option this time of year, especially in wind, but Bryan focused on the slow bite.
What are the conditions and outlook at Lake Almanor?
Water temps are dropping into the mid to upper 50s and the fall drawdown has stalled, so the lake level has held steady. Bryan expects the shallow pattern with fish in the top 10 feet to continue as the trout stay keyed on pond smelt.
Watch the full report
Lake Almanor October 2025 FAQ
Surface to 25 feet, with downriggers set 3 to 7 feet down producing good action.
Trix Minnows dressed with Brown Town scent, matching the pond smelt forage.
Below 60 degrees, hovering in the mid to upper 50s.
Along the East Shore and the east side of the Peninsula, close to the surface.
Pond smelt, so a slow minnow presentation matches the hatch.
Slow. Bryan focused on the slow game, though fast gear is an option in wind.
No, the fall drawdown has stalled and the level held steady this week.
