Lake Almanor, CA

About Lake Almanor

Lake Almanor is a large, high-elevation reservoir sitting at roughly 4,500 feet in Plumas County, in California's northern Sierra-Cascade country near Chester and the flanks of Lassen Peak. Covering around 28,000 acres when full, this man-made lake on the North Fork Feather River is a cold, clear, food-rich body of water that produces some of the finest stillwater trout fishing in the state. Anglers know it for fat, hard-fighting rainbow trout and big brown trout, along with a self-sustaining run of landlocked king (chinook) salmon that draws trollers from across the West.

What sets Almanor apart is its incredible forage base. Dense schools of pond smelt, along with spring and early-summer hatches of Hexagenia mayflies (the famous "Hex hatch"), let trout and salmon pack on weight quickly, so fish here run noticeably thicker than in many comparable lakes. The lake is broadly divided into a larger main basin and the shallower East Arm, fed by cold springs and tributaries that keep water temperatures comfortable for coldwater species well into summer. It is equally at home for the troller working downriggers, the fly angler chasing a summer Hex emergence at dusk, and the bank fisherman soaking bait off a point.

Fish Species

Lake Almanor supports a genuinely diverse coldwater and warmwater fishery. The headliners are its trout and salmon:

• Rainbow trout — the bread-and-butter species, abundant, well-conditioned, and often running thick-bodied thanks to the smelt forage. The standout draw for most visitors.
• Brown trout — fewer in number but the trophy prize, with the lake capable of producing genuinely large, predatory browns.
• King (chinook) salmon — landlocked salmon that troll up well and fight hard; a signature Almanor target, especially in cooler months and at depth in summer.

The lake also holds a solid warmwater component that gets going as the water warms:

• Smallmouth bass — found around rock, rip-rap, and points; a fun summer alternative.
• Largemouth bass — present in the warmer, weedier flats and coves, especially in the East Arm.

Rounding things out are catfish, and panfish such as crappie and other sunfish in the shallower, warmer water. The trout and salmon, however, are why Almanor has its reputation.

Best Seasons & Times

Spring: As ice fully releases and the surface warms into the 50s, trout and salmon move shallow and feed aggressively. This is prime time for trollers working the top 10–25 feet and for bank anglers, as fish chase smelt near the surface and around inflows. Mornings are excellent.

Summer: Early summer brings the famous Hexagenia mayfly hatch, typically around late June into July, igniting outstanding evening and after-dark fly and bait action as big trout key on emerging Hex nymphs and adults. As the surface heats up, trout and salmon push down to the cooler thermocline, so trollers go deeper with downriggers and leadcore. Smallmouth and largemouth become reliable in the warmer water. Dawn and dusk are the windows.

Fall: Cooling water pulls fish back toward the surface and triggers strong feeding before winter. Browns become more aggressive and catchable as they stage. Crisp fall mornings can produce some of the best trolling of the year.

Winter: Cold but fishable when weather and access allow; fish hold deeper and feeding slows, rewarding patient anglers. Mid-day can be the most productive window in cold conditions.

Techniques & Baits

Trolling is the dominant and most productive method for both trout and salmon. Effective approaches include:

• Trolling smelt-imitating spoons and small minnow-style plugs, plus threaded nightcrawlers behind a dodger or flasher.
• Using downriggers or leadcore line to reach the depth where fish are holding — near the surface in spring and fall, down to the thermocline in summer.
• Matching the forage: because smelt dominate the diet, silver, white, and natural baitfish patterns consistently outproduce.

Bait fishing from the bank or anchored boat works well, especially for rainbows: nightcrawlers, dough baits, and inflated crawlers off the bottom around points and drop-offs.

Fly fishing shines during the summer Hex hatch — fishing large Hexagenia nymph imitations in the evening and switching to dry/emerger patterns as adults appear at dusk and after dark is a classic Almanor experience. Stripping smelt-imitating streamers also takes trout and the occasional big brown.

For bass, work soft plastics, crankbaits, and jigs around rock, rip-rap, points, and weed edges; smallmouth relate to the harder structure while largemouth favor warmer, weedier cover.

Access & Launches

Lake Almanor is well served for public access. There are several public boat ramps and day-use areas around the shoreline, along with marinas that offer launching, fuel, supplies, and seasonal boat rentals — handy given how much of the best fishing here is done from a boat. The town of Chester, near the East Arm, is the main hub for lodging, tackle, and provisions, and a number of campgrounds and resorts sit on or near the water. Bank and shore fishing are possible from public access points, day-use parks, and stretches of accessible shoreline. Because much of the surrounding land includes private property and developments, look for clearly marked public access, ramps, and marinas, and confirm current launch availability, hours, and any fees before you go, as these vary seasonally and by operator.

Regulations & Licenses

A valid California sport fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older, and you should have it on your person while fishing. Lake Almanor is managed under California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations, and specific rules — including bag and size limits, any gear or bait restrictions, and seasonal provisions for trout, salmon, and bass — can change from year to year and may differ from statewide defaults. Before your trip, check the current CDFW regulations for this water (and the surrounding Plumas County district) to confirm limits, legal methods, and any special closures or restrictions. Practicing selective harvest and careful catch-and-release of larger trophy browns helps sustain the quality of this fishery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year to fish Lake Almanor?
Spring and fall are the standout seasons for trout and salmon, when cool water keeps fish near the surface and feeding aggressively, making for excellent trolling. Early summer adds the famous Hexagenia (Hex) mayfly hatch, which produces outstanding evening and after-dark fly and bait fishing for big trout. Mornings and the dawn/dusk windows are generally most productive.

What fish is Lake Almanor known for?
Almanor is best known for its abundant, thick-bodied rainbow trout and its trophy-class brown trout, plus a popular landlocked king (chinook) salmon fishery. It also holds smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish, and panfish, but the coldwater trout and salmon are what give the lake its reputation.

What is the Hex hatch at Lake Almanor?
The Hex hatch is the emergence of large Hexagenia mayflies, typically around late June into July. When it happens, trout key heavily on the big nymphs and adults, especially at dusk and after dark, creating one of the most exciting fly-fishing opportunities on the lake. Fish large Hex nymph imitations as light fades, then switch to dry and emerger patterns when the adults appear.

Do I need a boat to fish Lake Almanor?
A boat greatly expands your options, since trolling at depth is the most productive method for trout and salmon, and the lake is large. That said, bank and shore anglers do well soaking bait like nightcrawlers and dough baits off points and drop-offs from public access areas, particularly in spring and fall when fish are shallow. Marinas around the lake offer launching and seasonal rentals if you want to get on the water.