Montana Fish Report

A few nice days between the storms had several boats out fishing around the lake. The Lake Almanor area received about 2 ft. of snow this last go round, and even more rain. All that rain and melting snow has seasonal creeks and streams flowing.  

The ramps at Canyon Dam are plowed and open, and you don't have to go far to find fish.

Canyon Dam, and south along the east shore have seen the most pressure, but that fishing pressure in general has been on the light side.

Morning fog has been rather thick, so thick most of the trolling traffic has been close to the shore line just so they don't get lost out there. Once the fog burns off, beautiful blue skies open up, revealing snow cover mountains, and sun sparkled water.

The bite has been coming on later in the morning the past few days. Trolling Needlefish, and Speedy Shiners got zero hits the first hour, but after 9 a.m. it started.

We had 4 fish in the next hour, and ended up with a limit before 11:00 - all Rainbows, nothing big, best fish was about two pounds and all were released to enjoy the holidays.

We passed one other boat in the fog, two guys trolling threaded crawlers. They only had two fish but they were both over two pounds., again rainbows.

If you’re feeling adventurous, parking at the vista point on Hwy 36, and hiking down the hill to Bailey Springs is usually fantastic this time of year. Big Rainbows are always close by, crawlers with a floating marshmallow, or chartreuse Power Bait and a split shot, and just float it off the bottom. The hard part is getting back up the hill.

Another hot spot is the cove in the back of Big Springs, its just loaded with fish. Lake levels are just low enough to see the springs flowing into the lake, and there fish stacked up right in front, you can see their fins breaking the surface. Go in quietly or you will spook them. Salmon eggs always seem to work well there. 

Geritol Cove at Canyon Dam offers good bankfishing access, and the bite has been good also. Bait fishing, and jigs have been the best applications.

Lake levels are still good, and holding.

Feather River is high and fast.

Hamilton Branch powerhouse is running and a little muddy, no reports.

Bailey Creek is running clear. Doug Neal (530) 258-6732 http://www.almanorfishingadventures.com