Lake Almanor

[MikeNFL]

It looks like Almanor is a bit north of most areas discussed on this forum, but I was wondering if any of you get there to fish. The Hex Hatch in late June and July is one of the more targeted times for fly fishing. I am there each year at that time and manage to catch a few. If any of you go there how have you done and what flies or techniques do you use. I will be putting how I do this year on the blog below. We also fish Pyramid, which is how I found this cool forum.
Thanks.
Mike....


http://www.norcalfishinglounge.com

[stanbery]

Welcome aboard.

Jon

[Jim Lowe]

I used to fish Almanor each year and planned to go up this weekend but I'm guessing (haven't checked) that the hex hatch will be delayed a bit so I won't be going until after July 4 and maybe not even then if my high country plans start to take shape.

I used to do well on standard hex emerged patterns on the lake and during the day on streams with hares ears. I had a buddy that only fished a royal coachman dry on the streams.

[streaminbeast]

i used to fish there when i started fly fishing. the hex hatch is usually good at mouth of feather, mainly because the water will get too warm everywhere else. best hatch occurs at the big pge campground near thr jettys. however, water gets warm there too, so u will end up hookin up smb.

buute reservoir is a better place for the hex, for trout if you dont know the area. honestly, id say eff thr hatch and try to get me a legendary mythical brown out of a creek that flows into butte... :p

almanor wont be fishing well till late october.

[MikeNFL]

Jim and Streaminbeast - Yes, the hex will be late. I just got back Sunday and over 3 days did not see one emerger on the water. Usually by now the hatch has started. I do believe that by the 4th I should start seeing them. When it is going good there is one on every square foot of surface water. The water temp on sunday was 68. I think it needs to be at least 71 to get it started. Once it starts, I think this year will be quite good and last to the end of July heavy and then taper off slowly. The trollers are finally doing very well on the lake now. I find that the west shoreline is better than the feather inlet, and I do have as few special places. The hex is also at nearby Butt Reservoir. In fact, it usually starts there first. I have not fished the hex there, but if its not starting while I am there next weekend I may go down there for a look. Since there is some interest here I will repost how I do here and will put some pictures on my blog if I catch anything. Remember, anyone can send me fishing pictures and I will post them.
Mike...

http://norcalfishinglounge.com/

Mike@norcalfishinglounge.com

[streaminbeast]

thanks for the info mike.

i probably won't be up there until late october or november for the cove by the dam.

hows the feather look like flowing into the lake?

[MikeNFL]

Yes - Just got back from fishing over the 4th. Caught a few at the mouth of the feather and, since water is so high, we could get a boat up into flowing water coming into the lake. See my blog post for more info and a picture of a 25 inch 5 pound brown we caught on calibaetis nymphs.
Mike...

http://norcalfishinglounge.com/