Plug Tuning For Salmon
How to tune and wrap plugs for river kings.
Fishing Reports
Reports From The Water
Find recent bite updates by water, species, and guide. Then jump into the gear and videos connected to those reports.
Latest From The Water
Recent Reports
Quick updates from guides and anglers, organized so shoppers can find the bite faster.
Browse By Water
Lake & River Reports
Start with where you fish, then narrow into the newest bite information.
Lake ReportsLake Berryessa
Kokanee, trout, dodgers, spoons, and guide updates.
Lake ReportsShasta LakeReservoir trout, landlocked kings, depth, and baitfish lanes.
Lake ReportsLake OrovilleOpen-water trolling updates for trout and salmon.
River ReportsSacramento RiverPlug tuning, wraps, scent, and river salmon conditions.
Browse By Species
Reports By Bite
Jump straight to the reports that match what you are chasing.
Species ReportsTrout
Spoons, minnows, flies, plastics, scent, and reservoir trolling.
Species ReportsKokaneeDodgers, hoochies, spinners, corn, depth, speed, and scent.
Species ReportsSalmonRiver and ocean reports with flashers, plugs, bait, and scent.
Species ReportsStriped BassDelta trolling, baitfish color, current, and water movement.
Browse By Guide
Guide Reports
Follow updates from the guides behind the gear and on-water programs.
Guide ReportsBig Nate
Lake Berryessa kokanee, trout, scent, and trolling updates.
Guide ReportsJeff GoodwinNorthern California salmon, trout, and kokanee reports.
Guide ReportsAustin MoserNorthwest salmon updates, flashers, plugs, and bait programs.
Guide ReportsDavid JohnsonOregon salmon reports and changing river conditions.
Gear From Reports
Shop What Shows Up
Find the tackle families most often connected to current reports.
Report GearSpoons
Search baits for trout, landlocked salmon, and open water.
Report GearDodgersFlash and kick for kokanee, trout, and light trolling spreads.
Report GearFlashersRotating flash for salmon and larger trolling presentations.
Report GearHard BaitsPlugs and bait profiles for trout and salmon programs.
Report GearScentsGuide-used scent options for trolling setups.
Watch In Page
Report Videos & Tutorials
Helpful videos stay on the page so shoppers can learn without leaving Catch America.
Salmon Gear Breakdown
Flash, bait, and hardware for big salmon water.
Kokanee Trolling Setup
Dodgers, scent, speed, and presentation notes.
Fishing Report FAQ
How To Use Reports
Use reports to understand conditions, then match the presentation to your water.
How often are reports updated?
Reports are added as new guide updates, field notes, and fishing conditions come in.
Why do some reports not show photos?
If a report does not have a useful image, the page shows the report without a blank or broken image area.
Where should I go after reading a report?
Use the gear links and species pages to find the tackle family mentioned in the report, then choose the setup that fits your water.
Lake Almanor Fishing Report | May 2026
Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci runs Big Daddy's Guide Service on Lake Almanor and Eagle Lake and is a Catch America captain. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now Lake Almanor is fishing fantastic in May 2026, with huge-number days on rainbows plus nice browns as spring bug hatches turn on. Fast-troll Junior Optimizers and Trigger Spoons in reds, golds, and oranges 6 to 25 feet down at over 3 mph. Or slow down to about 1 mph and run soft plastics 15 to 30 feet deep. Scent with Brown Town and Goomba Garlic. What is biting at Lake Almanor in May?Spring fishing is fantastic. Capt. Bryan Roccucci is catching nice browns and having huge-number days on rainbows. The water is about 2.5 feet from full pool, clarity is improving daily, and morning temps are already hitting 60 degrees. Aquatic bug hatches have fish keyed on midges all over the lake. What depth and speed for Almanor trout?Fast-troll spoons 6 to 25 feet down depending on the day and location, running over 3 to 3.5 mph. If fast fishing is not your thing, slow to about 1 mph and run soft plastics and worms 15 to 30 feet deep. Both approaches are putting fish in the boat right now. What lures and colors are working at Lake Almanor?There is lots of action on the hardware. Bryan is running Junior Optimizers and Trigger Spoons fast, and it has been all about bright colors, lots of reds, golds, and oranges. For a slower bite, switch to soft plastics and worms fished 15 to 30 feet deep at around a mile per hour. What scents is Bryan using at Almanor?He scents all his gear two ways. Brown Town minnow scent goes on the spoons out over open water and has been working well. When fishing slow gear during the bug activity, he switches to Goomba Garlic, which puts out a strong scent trail to help fish find the bait. What is the outlook for Lake Almanor?Bryan says it is only going to get better, with the big Hexagenia mayfly hatch about a month to a month and a half out. He has already found Hexagenia larvae in fish on the cleaning table, a sign they are keying on the bottom. Open calendar dates are limited. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): Spring fishing up here at Almanor is just always fantastic. Right now, lots of action on the hardware. The fast trolling spoons anywhere from about 6 to 25 feet down. It's been all about the bright colors: lots of reds, golds, oranges. We're running the Optimizer Juniors, the Triggers, running them up over three, three and a half miles an hour. Lake Almanor May 2026 FAQ What depth are Lake Almanor trout in May?Fast-trolled spoons 6 to 25 feet down, or slow gear and soft plastics 15 to 30 feet deep. What trolling speed works at Lake Almanor?Over 3 to 3.5 mph for spoons, or slow down to about 1 mph for soft plastics. What lure colors are best at Almanor now?Bright colors, especially reds, golds, and oranges, on Junior Optimizers and Trigger Spoons. What scents does Bryan use at Lake Almanor?Brown Town minnow scent on spoons in open water, and Goomba Garlic on slow gear. When is the Hexagenia hatch at Lake Almanor?About a month to a month and a half out, and larvae are already showing in fish. What is the Lake Almanor water temperature?Around 60 degrees in the morning, with clarity improving daily. Shop the Tackle Junior Optimizer Spoon Trigger Spoon Brown Town Scent Goomba Garlic Scent Shop Bryan Roccucci's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreLake Almanor Fishing Report | April 2026
Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci runs Big Daddy's Guide Service on Lake Almanor and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now Lake Almanor is fishing well for browns and rainbows in April, from the surface down to about 25 feet, with a few deep fish in the high 40s on the slow troll. Water sits around 50 degrees with 5 to 6 feet of visibility. Everything mimics the pond smelt. Run Trix Minnows in pearl white scented with Brown Town, plus Trigger Spoons and Junior Optimizers. What is biting at Lake Almanor right now?Browns and rainbows in solid numbers, everything from small fish to incredibly large ones. Capt. Bryan Roccucci has fished three different techniques in three days, all producing. The bite stayed good through a warm March and into April. What depth are the Lake Almanor trout holding?Target from the surface down to about 25 feet for most fish. A couple days before this report Bryan found deep fish on bait down in the high 40s, which is extremely deep for this time of year, on the slow troll. Watch your sonar and follow the bait. What lures and colors work at Lake Almanor in April?Match the pond smelt. Bryan runs plugs, hardware like Trigger Spoons and Junior Optimizers, and soft-plastic Trix Minnows in pearl white. Everything gets Brown Town scent, a minnow-based scent, to match the hatch. How is Bryan presenting at Lake Almanor?It is dealer's choice. He mixes plugs, spoons, and soft plastics from the surface to 25 feet, and slow-trolls bait deeper when fish drop into the high 40s. Everything is scented with Brown Town to imitate the pond smelt these fish feed on. What is the outlook for Lake Almanor?Bryan calls it just another good spring at Almanor, with the lake healthy, water on the rise, and temps around 50 degrees. He expects the bite to hold. Only a few April dates were left open on his calendar at the time of this report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): We're seeing solid numbers of browns and rainbows, everything from mild to wild. We're getting basically surface to about 25 feet. We did manage to find some deep fish on bait, down in the high 40s. That was on the slow troll. Everything we're doing is some form of mimicking the pond smelt. The soft plastic Trix Minnows in the pearl white, scented up with Brown Town scent. Lake Almanor April 2026 FAQ What depth are trout holding at Lake Almanor in April?Surface to about 25 feet for most fish, with some deep fish found in the high 40s on the slow troll. What is the primary food source at Lake Almanor?Pond smelt. Bryan matches it with pearl white Trix Minnows and Brown Town minnow scent. What lures work at Lake Almanor now?Plugs, Trigger Spoons, Junior Optimizers, and pearl white Trix Minnows. What is the water temperature at Lake Almanor?Around 50 degrees, with 5 to 6 feet of visibility depending on location. What scent does Bryan use at Lake Almanor?Brown Town scent, a minnow-based scent, on everything to match the pond smelt. Who guides Lake Almanor for Catch America?Capt. Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy's Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 3" Soft Bait Brown Town Scent by Bryan Roccucci Trigger Spoon 2.25" Junior Optimizer Trolling Spoon Shop Capt. Bryan Roccucci's Tackle Shop Trout Trolling Spoons
Learn moreLake Almanor Fishing Report | March 2026
Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci runs Big Daddy's Guide Service on Lake Almanor and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now Lake Almanor is in fantastic shape in March, with fantastic numbers of browns and rainbows keyed on pond smelt. Capt. Bryan Roccucci is toplining from the surface down to 25, even 30 feet, running Trout Trix Minnows scented with Brown Town to match the bait. Water is in the mid-40s and rising, and the lake sits about 5 feet from full. What is biting at Lake Almanor right now?Browns and rainbows in fantastic numbers, from heavy browns and midsize browns to a lot of nice rainbows and some smaller ones. Capt. Bryan Roccucci says the lake is healthy and fishing as good as it gets for early spring. What depth are the Lake Almanor trout holding?Best target depths are the surface down to about 25 and even 30 feet, depending on where the sport fish have the bait corralled. On flat, sunny days the fish may slide a little deeper, so watch your sonar and drop down when needed. What lures and scent work at Lake Almanor in March?The fish are feeding exclusively on pond smelt, so there is no better imitation than Trout Trix Minnows. Bryan sets them up with Brown Town scent to mimic the minnow, whether toplining plugs or trolling the soft plastics. How is Bryan presenting at Lake Almanor?Toplining is his preferred method this time of year, running plugs and soft plastics up high. When fish slide deeper on flat conditions he switches to deeper-diving plugs or drops down on the downriggers, keeping Brown Town scent on everything. What is the outlook for Lake Almanor?Bright. Water is coming up about a tenth of a foot a day, sitting about 5 feet from full, with temps in the mid-40s. Bryan expects the spring bite to keep going, and once the rainbows finish spawning they come back hot. Warm weather may spark early bug hatches. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): Lake Almanor is in fantastic shape right now. Water temp running mid-40s. We continue to see fantastic numbers of fish out here, still a mix of browns and rainbows. These fish are feeding exclusively on pond smelt, there's no better imitation than some Trout Tricks minnows. We're setting them up right now with the Brown Town scent. Best target depths have been anywhere between the surface all the way down to about 25 and even 30 feet. Lake Almanor March 2026 FAQ What depth are trout holding at Lake Almanor in March?Surface down to about 25 and even 30 feet, depending on where the bait is corralled. What are Lake Almanor trout feeding on?Pond smelt, matched with Trout Trix Minnows and Brown Town scent. What is the best technique at Lake Almanor in early spring?Toplining plugs and soft plastics, dropping to deeper-diving plugs or downriggers when fish slide deeper. What is the water temperature at Lake Almanor in March 2026?Mid-40s, rising with warm weather, with the lake about 5 feet from full. What soft plastic works at Lake Almanor?Trout Trix Minnows scented with Brown Town to imitate pond smelt. Who guides Lake Almanor for Catch America?Capt. Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy's Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 3" Soft Bait Brown Town Scent by Bryan Roccucci Shop Capt. Bryan Roccucci's Tackle Shop Trout Soft Plastics
Learn moreEagle Lake Fishing Report | November 12, 2025
Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci runs Big Daddy's Guide Service and guides fall fly-trolling trips on Eagle Lake. He is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now Fall means topline fly trolling at Eagle Lake, and the November 2025 bite is strong. Bryan Roccucci runs hot orange J-Fair and Tui Chub pattern trolling flies just 2 to 5 feet down on topline rigs, scented with Minnow Mayhem fly spray. Fish are over 15 to 30 feet of water, dropping to 10 to 15 feet on bright, calm mornings. Hard-charging rainbows are running 2 to 2.5 pounds up into the high 4s. What is biting at Eagle Lake right now?Hard-charging rainbow trout on topline trolled flies. Bryan Roccucci reports fish running 2 to 2.5 pounds up into the high 4s, and they are smoking hot when hooked. This classic fall topline bite will continue for the rest of the season. What depth are the Eagle Lake trout holding?The flies are getting down just 2 to 5 feet on the topline rigs. Fish are sitting over 15 to 30 feet of water, and on bright, calm, fog-free mornings they can drop down to 10 to 15 feet. What flies and colors are working at Eagle Lake?Hot orange J-Fair flies scented with Minnow Mayhem fly spray have been the top producer, with a few coming on the Tui Chub pattern too. The stained water gives brighter colors and that scent an edge. These specialty flies are not carried by Catch America. How is Bryan Roccucci rigging and presenting?Topline fly trolling: run scented trolling flies 2 to 5 feet down on topline rigs over 15 to 30 feet of water. He is also running fly casting trips with intermediate lines and minnow patterns on the strip, plus balanced leeches under indicators. Trolling speed was not specified. What are the conditions at Eagle Lake?Mild fall weather with water temps in the low 50s, up to 53 on flat sunny afternoons and 50 to 51 in the morning. Water clarity is a little stained. The bite is expected to continue through November. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): Fall here at Eagle Lake means one thing and it's time for topline fly fishing. We're scenting up the flies with the Minnow Mayhem fly spray and running those flies on the topline rigs, getting down 2 to 5 feet. Hot orange J. Fair flies have been our top producer. We're starting to pick up a few on the Tui Chub pattern as well. These hard-charging rainbows are running 2 to 2 1/2 pounds all the way up to the high 4s. Eagle Lake November 12, 2025 FAQ What depth are Eagle Lake trout in November 2025?Flies are run 2 to 5 feet down over 15 to 30 feet of water, dropping to 10 to 15 feet on bright, calm mornings. What is the best fly for Eagle Lake right now?Hot orange J-Fair patterns scented with Minnow Mayhem fly spray, with a few on the Tui Chub pattern. How big are the Eagle Lake rainbows?Running 2 to 2.5 pounds up into the high 4s. What is the water temperature at Eagle Lake?Low 50s, up to 53 on flat sunny afternoons and 50 to 51 in the morning. What is the water clarity at Eagle Lake?A little bit stained, which is why brighter colors and scent are producing. How long will the Eagle Lake topline bite last?This classic fall topline fly bite is expected to continue through the rest of the season. Shop the Tackle Shop Bryan Roccucci's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreLake Almanor Fishing Report | November 2025
Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci runs Big Daddy's Guide Service on Lake Almanor and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now Lake Almanor is rolling in late November 2025 with a strong rainbow bite and a few browns mixed in. Bryan Roccucci works the water from the surface down to 25 feet over 27 to 40 feet of bottom. Slow-troll a Trix Minnows scented with Brown Town on the pond smelt pattern. Water temps are in the upper 40s to low 50s, and reports are coming from all over the lake. What is biting at Lake Almanor right now?Mostly rainbows with a few browns mixed in, and the fish are very responsive and eager to hit. Bryan Roccucci traded a hot Eagle Lake fall bite for this one, and reports are coming from all over the lake, including the East Shore, West Shore, and Peninsula. What depth are the Lake Almanor fish holding?From the surface down to about 25 feet, over roughly 27 to 40 feet of water. Keep your slow-troll gear in that top band where the fish are feeding on pond smelt. What lures are working at Lake Almanor?Slow-trolled soft plastics. Bryan Roccucci is rigging Trix Minnows scented with Brown Town and putting them down in the top 25 feet, and it is getting results on the pond smelt bite. How is Bryan Roccucci presenting at Lake Almanor?He runs the slow game, keeping scented Trix Minnows from the surface to 25 feet to match the fish feeding on the lake's pond smelt. Trolling speed was not specified in this report. What is the outlook for Lake Almanor?This late fall into early winter bite should continue all the way into December. Water temps are in the upper 40s to low 50s, a long way from freezing, though weather can shift fast in the mountains, so come prepared. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): Bulk of the catch right now is made up of rainbows with a few browns mixed in. We're working the water from the surface down to about 25 feet, over about 27 to 40 feet of water. The diet of these fish is made up primarily of the lake's pond smelt. I'm running the slow game, rigging up the Trout Trix Minnows, scenting them up with the Brown Town scent. Lake Almanor November 2025 FAQ What is biting at Lake Almanor in November 2025?Mostly rainbows with a few browns, and the fish are responsive and eager, per Bryan Roccucci. What depth are Lake Almanor fish holding?From the surface down to about 25 feet, over 27 to 40 feet of water. What is the best setup at Lake Almanor right now?A slow-trolled Trix Minnow scented with Brown Town. What are the Lake Almanor fish eating?Primarily the lake's pond smelt population. What is the water temperature at Lake Almanor?Upper 40s to low 50s depending on time and location, a long way from freezing. How long will the Lake Almanor bite last?This late fall into early winter bite should continue all the way into December. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 3 inch - 5 Pack Brown Town Scent by Bryan Roccucci Shop Bryan Roccucci's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreEagle Lake Fishing Report | November 2025
Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci runs Big Daddy's Guide Service and is a Catch America pro-staff captain on Eagle Lake and Lake Almanor. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now Fall trout fishing is as good as it gets at Eagle Lake in November 2025. Capt. Bryan Roccucci is top-line fly trolling, working the surface down to about 10 feet. Early under fog or cloud cover the fish sit in the top 5 feet, then slide to 10 or 12 feet when the sun comes out. A hot orange fly and a tui chub pattern are doing most of the work across the south end and both shores. How is Eagle Lake fishing right now?It is prime time. Capt. Bryan Roccucci reports fantastic fall conditions with top-line fly trolling under mild weather, some rain, and a few foggy mornings. Fish are hanging in the top 5 to 10 feet, and the south end plus both shores are all producing. How deep are Eagle Lake trout in November?Shallow. Early under fog or cloud cover the fish are usually in the top 5 feet near the surface. When the sun comes out and the lake goes flat, they slide offshore and drop to 10, sometimes 12 feet, so do not be afraid to drop your lines down to them. What flies work at Eagle Lake right now?The two flies doing most of the work are a hot orange pattern and a tui chub pattern. Orange is a traditional Eagle Lake producer, while the tui chub mimics the minnows the fish are still chasing offshore. Bryan scents them with a fly spray to boost bites. What are Eagle Lake trout feeding on?Still mostly tui chub minnows out over open water, which is why the tui chub fly produces offshore. But Bryan is seeing increasing signs they are feeding on the rocks too, finding snails and daphnia in the fish he cleans. They are hunting both zones. What is the outlook for Eagle Lake?Excellent. A couple of mild weather fronts should stay fishable, and the fall pattern should continue right through November. Bryan has about one more week at Eagle before heading to Lake Almanor for late fall and early winter fishing. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): We continue to work the Jay Fair trolling flies on the top line rigs, covering the water from the surface down to about 10 feet. Early in the morning under cloud cover or fog, the fish will usually be in the top 5 feet. The two flies that are doing most of the work for us right now is the hot orange and the tui chub pattern. The south end of the lake, the east shore, the west shore, all producing fish. Eagle Lake November 2025 FAQ How deep are Eagle Lake trout in the fall?In the top 5 feet early under fog, dropping to 10 or 12 feet when the sun comes out. What flies work at Eagle Lake in November?A hot orange pattern and a tui chub pattern on top-line rigs. What are Eagle Lake trout eating?Mostly tui chub minnows offshore, plus some feeding on the rocks where Bryan finds snails and daphnia. Where are the fish biting at Eagle Lake?The south end and both the east and west shores are all producing. How long will the Eagle Lake bite last?Bryan expects the fall pattern to continue right through November. Does Bryan scent his flies at Eagle Lake?Yes, he uses a fly scent spray on the hot orange and tui chub flies. That specific product was out of stock at publication. Shop the Tackle Shop Capt. Bryan Roccucci's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreLake Almanor Fishing Report | October 19, 2025
Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy's Guide Service is a Catch America pro-staff captain who guides Lake Almanor. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now 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 From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): Water temps are dropping, we are now below 60 degrees, hovering in the mid to upper 50s. It has actually brought a lot of fish more shallow. This last week has pretty much been a surface to 25 foot bite. We were setting some downriggers 3 to 7 feet down. We are pulling the Trout Trix Minnows, setting those up with the Brown Town scent, matching the hatch on the minnow-feeding fish. Lake Almanor October 2025 FAQ How deep are the trout at Lake Almanor in October 2025?Surface to 25 feet, with downriggers set 3 to 7 feet down producing good action. What lure works at Lake Almanor right now?Trix Minnows dressed with Brown Town scent, matching the pond smelt forage. What is the water temperature at Lake Almanor?Below 60 degrees, hovering in the mid to upper 50s. Where are the trout biting at Lake Almanor?Along the East Shore and the east side of the Peninsula, close to the surface. What are the Lake Almanor trout feeding on?Pond smelt, so a slow minnow presentation matches the hatch. Should I fish fast or slow at Lake Almanor?Slow. Bryan focused on the slow game, though fast gear is an option in wind. Is the Lake Almanor lake level dropping?No, the fall drawdown has stalled and the level held steady this week. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 5-Pack Brown Town Scent by Bryan Roccucci Shop Bryan Roccucci's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreLake Almanor Fishing Report | October 6, 2025
Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci runs Big Daddy's Guide Service on Lake Almanor and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now Lake Almanor trout are keyed on pond smelt and holding 30 to 40 feet, with some moving shallow to 20 to 25 feet as water cools past 60 degrees. On windy days, fast-troll Trigger Spoons or Junior Optimizers on Brown Town scent. When fish group up, switch to a trimmed Trix Minnow. The bite swings from slow to red hot in a day. What is biting at Lake Almanor right now?Trout, keyed heavily on the lake's pond smelt. Capt. Bryan Roccucci reports the bite has been unsettled after weather fronts with rain and thundershowers, ranging from slow to red hot all in the same day. Fish usually turn on at some point during the trip. What depth are the trout at Lake Almanor?Mainly 30 to 40 feet down, whether fishing fast or slow. Bryan is also starting to pick up fish shallow, at 20 and 25 feet, as cooler water pushes trout a little higher in the column. Watch for smelt getting chased out of the water. What lures and colors are working at Lake Almanor?On windy days, fast-troll Trigger Spoons and Junior Optimizers scented with Brown Town. When fish tighten up, switch to the slow program with Trix Minnows, trimmed a quarter to half inch to match the pond smelt, also on Brown Town scent. How is Bryan deciding fast versus slow at Lake Almanor?He lets conditions dictate. Windy periods call for the fast presentation with spoons. When conditions calm or fish are tightly grouped, he goes slow with a size-matched Trix Minnow. Both programs get the Brown Town scent treatment. What is the outlook for Lake Almanor?Bryan expects the smelt-focused bite to continue as water keeps cooling and trout feel better and move higher. Lake level is slowly declining on the fall drawdown. Water temperature is just over 60 degrees. Exact clarity was not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): When we're having to fish the windy days, we're going with the fast presentation, the Trigger Spoons, the Optimizer Juniors, scent it up with that Brown Town scent. When we've got the fish tightly grouped up, we're switching over to the slow program, the Trout Trix Minnows. We've been running primarily 30 to 40 feet down, although we're starting to get some fish shallow, 20 and 25 feet. Lake Almanor October 6, 2025 FAQ What depth are Lake Almanor trout holding in early October?Mainly 30 to 40 feet, with some fish moving shallow to 20 and 25 feet as the water cools. What lures work on windy days at Lake Almanor?Fast-trolled Trigger Spoons and Junior Optimizers scented with Brown Town. What is the slow-program lure at Lake Almanor?A Trix Minnow trimmed a quarter to half inch to match the pond smelt, on Brown Town scent. What is the water temperature at Lake Almanor?Just over 60 degrees and slowly dropping as fall progresses. What are Almanor trout feeding on?The lake's pond smelt population, which the baits are matched to imitate. Who guides Lake Almanor for Catch America?Capt. Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy's Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Trigger Spoon Junior Optimizer Spoon Trix Minnows Brown Town Scent Shop Bryan Roccucci's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreLake Almanor Fishing Report | September 29, 2025
Report by Capt. Bryan Roccucci Bryan Roccucci runs Big Daddy's Guide Service on Lake Almanor and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Bryan Roccucci's tackle. What is working right now Lake Almanor trout are chomping in late September 2025, holding 35 to 45 feet. Bryan Roccucci slow-trolls a cut-down Trix Minnows scented with Brown Town. Hardware is producing too: run Trigger Spoons and Optimizer Juniors in the low 30s to mid 40s using greens, blues, whites, and pearls. Fish are spread lakewide with a slight edge on the east shore. Water temp is 66.3 and dropping. What is biting at Lake Almanor right now?Trout are still chomping in this late-summer into fall bite, though it is a bit more sporadic than prior weeks. Bryan Roccucci is finding fish spread all over the lake, with a slight edge on the east shore and the east side of the peninsula, from the dam up to Hamilton Branch and Big Springs. What depth are Lake Almanor trout holding?Look in the 35 to 45 foot range on the slow gear, wherever fish show on the sonar. On hardware, the fish are in the low 30s to mid 40s. Bryan Roccucci puts baits right down on the marks rather than fishing one fixed depth. What lures and colors are working at Lake Almanor?Slow-troll a cut-down Trix Minnows scented with Brown Town at 35 to 45 feet. For hardware, run Trigger Spoons and Optimizer Juniors in greens and blues plus baitfish patterns like whites and pearls. How is Bryan Roccucci rigging and presenting?His main program is slow trolling cut-down Trix Minnows scented with Brown Town, down 35 to 45 feet on the marks. If wind makes slow trolling tough, switch to hardware and go faster with Trigger Spoons or Optimizer Juniors. Trolling speed was not specified in this report. What is the outlook for Lake Almanor?A storm front with wind and rain is moving in, which may make slow trolling harder for a few days. Water temp is 66.3 and ticking down. Bryan Roccucci expects the fall pattern to keep rolling right into October. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Bryan Roccucci): I've been pretty much attacking them with the slow gear. We're running a cutdown Trout Trix Minnows, scenting them up with the Brown Town scent, and running them down between 35 and 45 ft, wherever we're seeing the fish on the sonar. The Trigger Spoons, the Optimizer Juniors, same depth range. Greens, blues, and baitfish imitations have been working. Lake Almanor September 29, 2025 FAQ What is the water temperature at Lake Almanor in late September 2025?About 66.3 degrees in the afternoon and trending down, per Bryan Roccucci. What depth should I fish for Lake Almanor trout?35 to 45 feet on slow-trolled minnows, and the low 30s to mid 40s on hardware. Where are the fish concentrated at Lake Almanor?Spread all over the lake, with a slight emphasis on the east shore and the east side of the peninsula. What scent is working at Lake Almanor?Brown Town scent on a cut-down Trix Minnow is the go-to slow-troll setup. What hardware colors are producing at Lake Almanor?Greens, blues, and baitfish patterns like whites and pearls on Trigger Spoons and Optimizer Juniors. Should I slow troll or fast troll at Lake Almanor?Both are working. Slow troll cut-down Trix Minnows, or go faster with Trigger Spoons and Optimizer Juniors if conditions call for it. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 3 inch - 5 Pack Brown Town Scent by Bryan Roccucci Trigger Spoon 2.25 inch Junior Optimizer 2.25 inch Shop Bryan Roccucci's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn more
