Lake Almanor Fly Fishing Report

Lake Almanor is pretty hot right now. By hot I mean the surface temperatures. I know it's the Hex Hatch right now, but those surface temperatures in the evening are sitting between 73°F and 74°F. This isn't good for the fish. They will go into thermal shock and barotrauma. Both are deadly to trout.

If you come please fish in the early mornings, before the water temperature jump. I have switched all my Hex trips to early mornings and have been having great success.

Balanced Leeches and Chironomids have been producing the best, with a few fish caught stripping pond smelt and damsels. I have been trying to get off the water between 11am and noon. Best Balanced Leeches have been Gray's balanced Hex, bruised leeches (olive, black and tan) in sizes #8 & 10. Best pond smelt has been Milt's Pond Smelt in sizes #6 & 8. Best producing chironomids have been the 49er and Wine Time in sizes #10 & 12. I have not been fishing dry flies.