There's a change about on the water.  Whatever the reason, around the full moon last month and accompanied by bitter cold temperatures which kept gear frozen pretty much all day, the bite fell cold as well.  That's on the change now.  The last few days the fish have been increasingly active.  Beautiful calm days, melted snow meaning clear roads and easy access has brought out a few more people to fish.  They've been rewarded with a solid bite of rainbows and browns.

Most of the activity has been down at Canyon Dam.  Boaters are launching and fishing right out of the gates at the boat dock.  Reports are trolling a mixture of baits with success as well as still fishing and jigging.  I received a report of a nice rainbow coming in behind a chrome flasher and a Rapala lure.  Fish are being graphed all the way to the bottom.  With surface temps at 37 degrees, the fish are hard fighting and easily released after a rewarding battle.

Yet other anglers are picking up fish at Recreation Area 1 to the A-Frame and inside the Hamilton Branch cove both from boats and the bank.  Fly fishing, stripping nymphs and casting rooster tails or whatever is in your box along the shoreline can lead to rewarding catches.

Regardless of your preferred method, a positive trend is in the works.  It might justify a trip up the hill to check it out.

Water levels at Lake Almanor remain nearly unchanged, trending higher ever so slightly as the snow melts.  Unfortunately downstream, Lake Oroville has already begun to decline.

Road access is good and clear from all directions except Greenville and highway 89 where ongoing work is requiring controlled traffic.

Good luck out there.