Lake Almanor
Lake Almanor, CA
Lake Almanor is located at the junction of the Cascade and Sierra Mountains. Mount Lassen overlooks the lake on its north side, and the views from shore or on the open water are memorable for life.
The lake was made by the damming of the North Fork of the Feather River in the small community of Canyondam, California. Almanor holds smallmouth, salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, and Sacramento perch. It’s a lake where all fly fishers must bring their top game.
A lake is an excellent place for fly fishers looking for big fish or just sharpening their stillwater skills. The Hexagenia hatch is the big draw every June for anglers, but other events on the lake bring fish into easy casting range. The Blood Midge parade in April and May, and the Pond Smelt spawn in the Fall are other outstanding times to fish the lake.
We don’t guide Lake Almanor; we live it. The Gray Family cabin is just a few hundred yards from the west shore of the lake.
We utilize our 19’ Tracker Boat & float tubes. Lake Almanor is a must-fish for fly fishers of all ages.
Fishing Almanor
Trout
All year - weather permitting.
Stillwater trips are $600 per day (6-8 hours, depending on the time of year) for a maximum of two anglers. Evening trips with Lance are $400 per night for up to two anglers using the Tracker. The Tracker, rods, reels, flies, leaders, and indicators are all-inclusive. Lakeside lunches and beverages are provided only on full-day trips. A 50% deposit is required to hold your date.
Trout - Midge Hatch
April - May
Midges hatch in the lake year-round. The best months when fish key on midges are April and May. This is when we fish the midge hatch. We utilize the Tracker to run to different places on the lake where fish like to gather. We use the deepwater Midge Tactic; this rig is flexible enough to fish deep or shallow. We follow the midge, “the trout”, climbing in the water column for the best results. Full days, or a “4-Hour Block,” are available. Your choice.
2027 | Midge Hatch Open Dates
May 17,18,19,20,21,22,23,26 & 27
Trout - Hexagenia Hatch
June - July
The famous “Hexagenia” hatch at Lake Almanor traditionally starts in June and lasts until early July, with the Summer Solstice as the peak. We fish this hatch using the Tracker with Deepwater Indicator, sinking lines, and, of course, floating lines for the “Magic Time” dry fly fishing. This is true “gentlemen fishing”; we start at 5:30 pm and go until dark. Often, we get back to the dock after dark. The Hex is truly a hatch that every fly-fisher needs to experience.
2027 | Hex Hatch Open Dates
July 1 & 2nd
Trout - Damselfly Hatch
August - September
The damselfly hatch is a little-known period at Almanor, when fish key in on damselflies right before they start looking for Pond Smelt. We use sinking lines from Intermediate to type 6 lines during this time. We travel the lake fishing around the many weed beds at Almanor. I like this time of year because the mornings are cool and we are off the water by lunchtime. We do 4-hour blocks during this time. Afternoon summer temperatures still reach into the 80s, and by noon the surface temp is unsafe for releasing trout. Gorgeous sunrises and fisty fish!
2027 | Damsel Fly Hatch Open Dates
August 26,27,28,29 & 30th, September 1,2,3,8,9,10 & 11th
Trout - Pond Smelt
September
Pond Smelt time is a wonderful time to fish Lake Almanor. Summer daytime temps are fading, and cool mountain air is filling the Lake Almanor Basin. We run the lake with the Tracker looking for huge pods of pond smelt. The fish are all over the pond smelt, feeding heavily before the long cold winter ushers in. Just like Hexagenia fishing, we use multiple tactics to grab these fish. Nothing beats having a big fish come up on a minnow pattern like a dry fly. Simply perfect! Full days, or a “4-Hour Block,” are available. Your choice.
2027 | Pond Smelt Open Dates
September 17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29 & 30th
“Lance Gray is an expert on the Almanor Hex Hatch. His seminars and flies have elevated my skills and knowledge which has resulted in many memorable catches.””