Today we started our morning with 52 degrees and reached a high of 86 with light winds. The breeze started stiff this morning and chilly. Be prepared if you are heading to the water early. Forecasts say we should see warmer mornings and higher afternoon temperatures heading through this week. Calm mornings are forecast to change to our typical afternoon breezes. Wind should barely break the double digits before calming again in the evening. Smoke continues to play a role keeping temperatures moderated, but occasionally causing discomfort on the water. A steady stream of air tankers are traveling north and south above the Peninsula heading to drop retardant on the still active fire that has moved north of us. Occasional smoke may rise on the nearby mountains as hot timber is still active on the horizon.

 

Surface water temperatures are steady at 67 degrees. Water clarity is roughly 11' to 12’, a dark green color with dispersed algae that accumulates on surface materials and lines. It does not appear to be affecting baits presented below. The lake is reported down roughly 6 inches this week. A nearly 2” increase over last week’s 4” loss. Highway 32 and 36 east are open for travel into the greater Lake Almanor basin. 36 west from Susanville is impacted by road construction. Highway 44 west of A21 is hard closed. There is no traffic heading out on 44 towards Redding at this time. To our south, 89 to 70 is impacted with controlled traffic. 70 towards Quincy as well as down the canyon towards Oroville is similarly controlled.

 

Fishing continues to be good. Fish are being caught by trollers mostly on the east side of the lake. The area almost entirely from the Big Springs east and south to Canyon Dam is holding anglers. And, those anglers are holding fish. Bait presentations are changing as the fish appear to be becoming increasingly choosy. Perhaps the unbelievable fishing is coming to an end as boat pressure has increased. That, or other factors have seen the bite waning at the time of this report. Jigging is a solid option and an increasing amount of boats are being found on anchor or sitting still and casting. White is a solid choice to start if you plan on trying your hand at this time honored technique. Most public access remains closed. Canyon Dam is closed. The gates remain open as hazardous tree removal operations continue. However, the public is being confronted and asked to leave the area. If you wish to launch your boat make arrangements with a private boat launch facility. The Hamilton Branch is the top choice by shore producing fish both on the fly and with bait along its banks. Although the public forests remain closed, the river was reported to have seen moderate traffic from anglers this last week. Open recreation along the west shore in the Lassen National Forest was also visible. Of note, two beautiful Chinook Salmon that were taken by customers fishing nightcrawlers trolled 22’ down the wire near the mouth of the Hamilton Branch this last week. The biggest crested 22” and the smaller above 21”. Quality rainbows in the 25” class were also taken although larger fish were fewer towards the end of Labor Day weekend.