Montana Fish Report

Water surface temps are 45 degrees.

Clarity has improved in most areas to 6.5  to 7.5 feet

The east shore has been great, and the bite has really picked up, along with the wind.

Surface temps are on the rise, clarity has improved, bug hatches are popping off, and smelt are making their way toward structure to spawn, drawing browns closer to shore.

I have spent alot of time working the east shore from the Dorado to the Snag this past week, and the hatches are really ramping up, fish are tuned into the green Midge hatches, and will be going forward.

However it's the Almanor west area that's picking up now. Browns and rainbows are sliding down the west side from Prattville and toward the USFS ramp. This is the time of year when many areas around the lake will be producing strikes. The fish are enjoying the spring weather after the harshest winter I have seen in the last 12 years.

Fishing pressure has been light during the week and picks up a little on the weekend.

Spots to watch:

#1 Bailey Creek inlet up to Bailey Springs.

#2.  Almanor West from the USFS ramp, west toward the airport flats. Green and Blood Midge hatches are starting, also. 

Leeches will be ramping up. Trolling black grubs or anything that looks like a leech is advised. These leeches are about  2", even a small night crawler could look good if properly threaded..

#3. The Almanor Peninsula, from Rec.#1 to the A-Frame. Stay close to shore, inside the moorings and rip Rapalas. Anything north of the A-frame the water is stained.

All Public and private ramps are open with docks.

The Hamilton Branch power house is still releasing brown water into the north east basin, and that water flows counterclockwise toward Big Springs, past Big Cove Marina ,and as far as the A-frame before in begins to improve.

Yesterday the A- Frame clarity was 32", not good right now.  Doug Neal (530) 258-6732 http://www.almanorfishingadventures.com