Lake Almanor Fishing Guide, Plumas County, California

• Overview

  California holds Lake Almanor, in Plumas County. It stands 4,495 feet above sea level. Around 38.6 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. It is the biggest water on our Plumas County list. Nearest town is Chester, 6.7 miles off. Chico is the closest city, 50 miles away. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Lake Almanor

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Records held for Plumas County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker, brown trout and green sunfish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Treat Lake Almanor as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 65°F; by January the average is down near 33°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. On Lake Almanor the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Rock Lake, 4.3 miles out. The position on Lake Almanor is worth confirming on the day.