August 22, 2010

Surface temps at 72 degrees.

Cooler mornings and shorter days have surface temps on the decline. Seasonal averages have been below normal everywhere around Northern California and here at Lake Almanor as well. Solid afternoon winds have been tossing up white caps and removing additional surface heat. Water clarity on the east basin is still excellent to 18 ft. The clarity on the west basin is less from all the wind, and clarity is more like 12 ft. or less, also there lots of floating grasses and other line foaling material about.

Bug hatches have been unbelievable this year and continue to go off every late morning. The amount of activity is almost beyond comprehension and the fish have had a variety of insects to feast on all summer. In addition, the smelt fry hatch has been the best I have seen in 12 years. Clouds of bait fish are moving all along the east peninsula and Salmon and Trout have plenty to feed on this season. Canyon Dam and the deep water there have clouds of bait everywhere and these schools of bait are all bigger than a school bus.

I have been fishing the east side all month and it's been getting better every day. Even with all the food available, we have been hooking up Rainbows and Browns from 16 to 22 ", trolling threaded crawlers at 27 and 30 ft. down. All the fish we have seen have been in good health and are of course, fat. They have been just full of bugs, but lately they have turned their attention to the smelt, spitting out lots of them as we work them in towards the boat. The smelt are growing fast and are running about 1.5 to 2" long. The story is, there's lots of food around and the bite has been just fair this year. Everyone has been working a little longer for limits these last 2 months, however it looks like we are about to turn the corner now, and I expect a stellar fall fishing season as insect activity will be on the decline soon.

Biologist have completed a recent water quality survey this past week and found the best oxygen levels to be at 35 ft. which explains why the best bite has been from 25 ft. to 35 ft. Fish are holding at these levels and that's where you should be. I have been downrigged to the 27 ft. level and have lots of bigger fish dashing up out of the thermolcline for solid hits and hook sets. Keep in mind that with cooler water all year, the Salmon have not been forced into the springs, the Rainbows have not been forced into the Hamilton Branch like previous years and the fish are scattered all over the lake, and it's not going to get any warmer from now and going forward into fall.

If your going to troll spoons, downsize is the word. With water clarity so good, we have downsized our lures and silver will be the best color. Silver Prism needlefish and Sep's Pro Secrets are about as big as you should go and tip them with a small piece of a crawler. Bait fishing has been best in the late afternoon and evening with nice Browns over 3 lbs. whacking the Cricket /mealworm combo 4' off the bottom.

Bailey Springs area has been a great spot this season. Bobbers and crawlers, inflated crawlers off the bottom, even Salmon eggs have been getting Rainbows over 2 lbs., and a couple over 4 lbs. from time to time.

Generally the fish are scattered all over the lake and trolling has been the best with bait fishing taking a back seat, especially in the morning. Bait fishing has been the most productive in the lake afternoon to dark.

Cricket and Mealworms, 4 cranks off the bottom behind Goose Island, Rec.2, The Spar Buoy, and Fox Farm, and Rec.1 just outside the log boom, some of the biggest fish this season have come later in the day rather than early.

Both Canyon Dam, and the USFS ramps are open, plenty of parking.