It looks to be an exciting week upcoming for the Lake Almanor basin. Warmer temperatures are coming. Another solid winter of cold wet weather looks to bring us a great spring of cool water running into the pond. We just came off of a cold snap and a few inches of snow. The forecast is for temperatures into the low 70s. Towards the end of last week we started to see midge flies. The bugs are coming. I expect to see them this next week too. With the bugs came surface activity. The fish were actively surface feeding in the pre sunrise hours.
Since the last report, the many docks that line the shoreline have been being placed back in the water. This has changed tactics significantly. Pulling rapalas along the shoreline is no longer a method of choice. Now trollers are being forced out of the shallows and into deeper water. There is still some pond smelt down by the dam, but these will die off soon. Good fishing is being found from the dam along the east shore up to the Dorado. The rainbow trout are in their spawning mode and fish are being located outside of the the tributaries as they migrate up the rivers. Anglers have been having success up at Bailey Creek in the west basin. Trolling shallow in waters no deeper than 15 or so feet up there is a method of choice for some. The bite is hit and miss, but for many, just getting away from the crowds and enjoying beautiful days on the water is enough for some to accept the occasional slow days. Look to see fish leave the dam and for boats to increasingly target fish in the west basin.
There has also been an noticeable uptick in bass fishing. I believe the smallmouth bite will open up with the upcoming warm temperatures. This spring has been unusual for me for the lack of small mouth bass. Generally by this time of the year we are picking them up off of the points as the females prepare to build their spawning beds.