LAKE ALMANOR

Spring conditions bring good fishing!

Cool mornings and warm sunny afternoons have been the conditions as of late on Lake Almanor. Runoff flows have increased due to melting snow. The water level has seen a slight uptick currently sitting at four and a half feet from full at 4489.6 ft. Hamilton branch continues to kick out dirty water reducing clarity the closer you get to the mouth. The west basin along the peninsula and the west shore has much better water visibility. Water temperatures are currently running in the mid

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Striped Bass & Rainbow Trout Fishing Trips!

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40s in the mornings topping out in the mid 50s in the afternoons with full sun and little wind. Bug hatches are coming on strong all over the lake and fish tailing at the surface can be seen taking advantage of the fresh food supply. Action for trollers is happening at a variety of locations around the lake, from the dam to Dorado and even up by Big Springs, as the water color has improved so has the bite. Both sides of the peninsula have also been giving up fish as is the west shore from Rocky Point to Almanor West giving anglers plenty of locations to visit. Trout have been caught on a wide variety of offerings, with lots of options for anglers. Worms, plastics and trolling flies along with hardware like spoons and Rapala’ s have all been on the menu lately. The fish have branched out, now using more of the water column to hunt for pond smelt and the newly hatching aquatic bugs. The surface to 20 feet seems to be holding the bulk of the active fish. The catch continues to be a mix of more Browns than Bows and a few salmon. The Smallmouth bass are active as well. Mountain Bass held a tournament over the weekend and the word was a five fish limit weighing over 21 pounds was in the lead after day one. Those are some big bass! Bank anglers throwing lures, bait and flies have been working the coves of the west shore with

A huge kokanee taken from New Melones Reservoir with

Headhunter Sportfishing

some success as is typical for this time of year. Water access points along the peninsula have also been providing action for anglers throwing Kastmasters or soaking bait. Fly anglers are getting grabs on slow stripped streamers. Traffic on the lake is increasing as we move through spring. The Canyon Dam Boat Ramp is currently open and useable. Looks like we are in for some pretty nice weather conditions, and it is starting to feel like spring. Report courtesy of Lake Almanor Fishing Association.

LAKE AMADOR

Target Trophy Trout with Spoons and Jigs

IONE – If you want to catch trophy trout, it’ s hard to beat Lake Amador at this time. Just ask Dean Ryan, who caught the biggest Cutbow of the year to date, weighing in at 13.6 pounds He caught it on green garlic PowerBait off the Spillway Road.

Or ask Julian Galley, who landed a whopper Amador Gold that tipped the scales at 12.12 pounds. He caught it off the Blue Dock using a minnow lure. Or ask Jay, who landed a limit of rainbow trout, topped by a 12 lb. beauty, during his recent trip to the lake. He caught all of the fish on his custom-made spoons. May Smith also had a great a day of fishing when she landed a 12.5 lb. Gold. She was using a nightcrawler in Boat Launch Cove.“ Another half a ton of Amabows were released in 3 locations yesterday,” Lee Lockhart of the Lake Amador reported after the latest fish plant.“ Some were released to the launch cove, and the rest divided in half between the Dam and the Spillway. Lots of giant Amagolds are in there and the rest are 2-3 lb. Cutbows.”“ The surface temperature is up to

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60 degrees, so the lake is prime for all types of fishing,”: he observed..“ Trout are being caught from 5’- 20’ deep, mainly on PowerBait from shore, Speedy Shiners. while trolling.”“ Bass are on beds, Crappie are stacking on points and under docks and catfish are still deeper but feeding heavy on crawdads,“ he continued.“ You can’ t ask for better conditions to plan a fishing trip.”“ We are open for boat launching- just a simple inspection so please make sure if you bring a boat it’ s CLEAN, DRAINED, and DRY( plug out) and no live bait, which requires water to survive will be allowed in( mainly minnows, crawdads, etc). We apologize for the inconvenience but it’ s what we have to do to allow boat launching,” he concluded. The lake is full, the surface water temperature is 60 degrees, the water clarity is 10’ and the oxygen level is 10.2 mg / L. Lots of people have caught quality trout lately. Jared and Devin caught five really nice trout, including one 10 lb. Amador Gold, in the launch Cove while using spoons and E jigs.‘ The Trout Slaying Trio had a great time in campsite 39, got some trout and a couple carp during their stay,” Lockhart added.“ Don’ t forget: if you catch a carp and bring it to us at the Clubhouse, you get a free day use parking permit to use in the future.”

- Dan Bacher

AMERICAN RIVER

Stripers Provide Top Action Until Shad Move In

RANCHO CORDOVA – If you like to catch American shad, expect the spring bite to shift into full gear on the lower American during the first two weeks of May. Releases into the American rom Nimbus Dam were 5,416 cfs at press time. You can expect the shad to first show in the lower section of river from the mouth to Paradise Beach. Spin fishing enthusiasts should toss out Teeny Rounders and other jig heads, tipped with chartreuse, pink and yellowtails. Shad were already showing in the Sacramento River below Freeport at press time. For flies, anglers should use Shad: Bloody Maria’ s, Firecrackers, American River Pinky, Green Weeney, Andy’ s Lipstick and Jeff’ s Jefe Early Riser patterns, according to; https:// www. californiaflyfishingreports. com / lower-american-river“ Joe Vasquez reported that he and his clients got four stripers the other day, including two schoolies and two adults,,” reported Capt. Andy Guibord, fly fishing guide. Guibord recommended using Clouser Minnows with a # 1 Hook in white & turquoise / olive & turquoise / gray & turquoise and yellow & turquoise, white & gray for the stripers.

- Dan Bacher