The calendar says spring, but the weather says summer. Beautiful sunrises, warm temperatures, bright sunny skies and light winds and a great bite have dominated the Almanor Basin. The lake level continues to slowly rise it currently sits at 4489 or 5 feet below full pool. Flows on the tributaries are still elevated but lack of recent precipitation has them on the decline. Hamilton Branch has cleared significantly and is running green as PGE has installed boards at the Mountain Meadows dam upstream. Remember when fishing Hamilton or any other location, pack out what you pack in. Water temperature is now running in the low to mid 50’s depending on time and location some days ending up in the high 50’s due to unseasonably warm weather and almost zero wind. The trout are on the grab all over the lake. The dam, east shore, west shore and the peninsula are all giving up fish. The lake’s population of pond smelt continues to be the primary food source, however the warm conditions have kicked off some of the early aquatic bug hatches bringing a second course to the table. Trollers are focusing their attention from the surface to 20 feet with a variety of offerings and techniques to temp fish. Slow trolled (1.5 mph or less) worms, plastics and trolling flies are all solid choices especially in baitfish patterns. Running flies and Rapalas faster also brought fish to the net over the last week. The catch is a mixed bag of Browns than Bows ranging from small to very large. The coves of the west shore are providing shore anglers with some action. The top bait offerings continue to be crawlers and mice tails for a catch made up of mostly Rainbows and an occasional Brown. Recent activity has a slight edge to crawlers with garlic scent. The bass are beginning to get active, and the warmer temps have some moving to the shallows. The Canyon Dam boat ramp is open and useable. The outlook calls for a slight cool down over the next few days, but temperatures will remain above average.

Signups continue for this year's Veteran's Fishing Day event. See the flyer below, Click Here to register.​

Project Hambino: In 2024 the Almanor Fishing Association became aware of a development that was affecting our local community, food insecurity. After hearing that demand for food assistance around the Thanksgiving holiday was at an all-time high, we decided to do something about it and Project Hambino was launched. Our idea was to deliver a substantial number of holiday hams to the Almanor Basin Food Pantry for their Christmas food dispersal. There is now a way you can support Project Hambino. If you would like to sponsor one or more holiday hams please Click Here. Together, we can make the holidays a little brighter for our community. Read the full story.

In 2024 the Almanor Fishing Association became aware of a development that was not only affecting our local community, but cities, towns and communities across the country, food insecurity. While our small organization may not have the reach to solve problems on the state and national level, we realized we could make a big difference locally in the Almanor Basin. We realized that our towns, their populations, Lake Almanor and the basin are tightly woven together, and it is that combination that makes this area so special. Our local work with the Community Supper program, sponsored by the Almanor Basin Food Pantry, made us keenly aware of the increasing needs and challenges faced by residents and the groups who endeavored to help. After hearing that demand for food assistance around the Thanksgiving holiday was at an all-time high, we decided to do something about it and Project Hambino was launched.
Our idea was to deliver a substantial number of holiday hams to the Almanor Basin Food Pantry for their Christmas food dispersal. This delivery would free up some of their funding and would allow them to put those additional resources to use by serving more people and families in the Almanor Basin. In December of 2024, working with Holiday Market in Chester, AFA was able to secure a purchase of 100 hams, totaling just over 1000 pounds, and deliver them to the Almanor Basin Food Pantry ahead of their Christmas food dispersal.

​Bait fishermen have been netting a few fish at several locations of the west shore. Again, the cooler water temps have the fish moving in close. Fly anglers suspending flies under indicators as well as stripping pond smelt imitating flies on sinking lines are tempting the fish focused on the forage minnows, and with the fish moving shallower, they are easier targets for the fly crowd. Canyon Dam boat ramp is open and should continue to be available throughout the winter subject to access being blocked by snowfall.  The USFS west shore ramp north of Prattville, as of today, is currently open but look for this dock to be pulled and ramp to be closed at any time. As always, keep an eye to the weather and be prepared for changing conditions.  The Almanor Fishing Association would like to extend a thank you and best wishes to all veterans on this Veterans Day.