Lake Almanor Fishing Report | September 8, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
The bulk of active fish run 30 to 45 feet, with the high 30s to low 40s the prime zone.
Presentation
Fish fast when the trout are spread out, then slow down over tight pockets. Fast trolling spoons draw reaction strikes, while a slow minnow presentation shines when fish are stacked.
Lures and baits
Trigger Spoon run fast when fish are scattered
Pearl Trix Minnows slow trolled when fish pull tight, set up with Brown Town scent to look and smell like a minnow
Water temperature
68.8 degrees surface temp
Water level
Lake dropping about a tenth of a foot a week.
Weather
A little unsettled weather on the way.
Advice for this week
Match the smelt forage. Look like a minnow and smell like a minnow. Do not be afraid to change locations every day.
What is changing
Lake cooling into fall and dropping about a tenth of a foot a week. Fish scattered lake-wide and locked on the pond smelt population.
Next week
Expect the late summer bite to roll right into fall. Eagle Lake rainbow trips are coming up next.
Lake Almanor is fishing its best late-summer bite in years in early September 2025, with the water at 68.8 degrees and fish scattered lake-wide on pond smelt. Target 30 to 45 feet, with the high 30s to low 40s the sweet spot. Run fast with Trigger Spoons when fish are spread out, then slow down with pearl Trix Minnows and Brown Town scent when they tighten up.
How is Lake Almanor fishing right now?
Excellent. Capt. Bryan Roccucci calls it the best late-summer bite in recent memory. The water dropped to 68.8 degrees, below 70, and the fish are scattered all over the lake, aggressively feeding on the pond smelt population.
How deep are Lake Almanor trout holding?
The bulk of the actively feeding fish are running 30 to 45 feet, with the high 30s and low 40s the prime target. That is where Bryan sets most of his gear. Match your Trigger Spoons and minnows to that band.
What lures work at Lake Almanor?
When fish are spread out, Bryan fishes fast and the Trigger Spoons have been getting killed. When he finds a tight pocket of fish, he slows down and runs pearl Trix Minnows set up with Brown Town scent to look and smell like a pond smelt.
How do you match the pond smelt bite?
These fish are keyed on pond smelt, so imitate a minnow. Bryan runs pearl Trix Minnows and scents them with Brown Town so they smell like a minnow too. Change locations often, since he has been moving nearly every day to stay on active fish.
What is the outlook for Lake Almanor?
Bryan does not expect this late-summer bite to give up and sees it rolling right into fall. A little unsettled weather means playing the wind, but conditions are great. He is also starting Eagle Lake rainbow fly-trolling trips soon.
Watch the full report
Lake Almanor September 8, 2025 FAQ
68.8 degrees, dropping a couple of degrees as fall approaches.
30 to 45 feet, with the high 30s to low 40s the prime zone.
Primarily the lake's pond smelt population, though some bug activity remains.
Trigger Spoons fished fast when the fish are scattered.
Slow down with pearl Trix Minnows scented with Brown Town.
Bryan expects it to roll right into fall without giving up.
