Montana Fish Report

Salmon, rainbows and browns, all are very active these days.

Insect hatches that have usually started to peak by now, have barley got off the launching pad this early season. Cloudy days with light spring rains and afternoon breezes have kept water surface temps in check, and even in decline.

10 days ago we saw surface temps around  49 degrees now its 57.5 and rising daily.

Right now its all about insect hatches, and the cooler temps have delayed, and will prolong this spring time bite.

Fish are active and looking to feed, and it seems like there's more fish looking for food than there is food available.

Fishing pressure has understandably has been light during mid week. but the boats that have made it out are being rewarded with a pretty solid bite that starts later in the morning rather than earlier. Boat traffic picks up on the weekends but  its still light.

Lately its been rainbow trout stepping up and aggressively searching out, and crashing trolled lures, downrigged no deeper than 14 feet. Most of the Browns have been in the 2 pound class.

Expect to go deeper by late morning, especially with the flat glassy water days. These fish will start to go down as surface temps continue to rise.

Larger rainbow trout have become active as well, running up 24 inches but most have been in the 17 to 21 inch range. These larger rainbows have to work hard all day to fill and satisfy that big time appetite, and little bugs snacks are just not cutting it.

My sonar unit clearly shows insect swarms hovering close to the bottom, they want to come out and up to the surface, but its been just a little to dark and cool, and with all the clouds shading the water has kept the hatch in limbo, but not for long. You can bet after a couple days of bright sunshine these larvae swarms will come off the lake bottom and make the big push up toward the surface, triggering a even better bite, and pulling back in other fish that have spread out into surrounding areas searching for food.

Places to watch, Almanor West, the west side of the Almanor peninsula up to Bailey Creek  and Lake Cove, all these areas have insect blooms that are looming large.

Every fish we have checked have been feeding on insect larva, some just packed to the point where they look like there going to burst. While the fish are focused on bugs, the smelt have spawned almost unnoticed and unharassed, and that means a possibly very good smelt fry hatch this season as well.

Water clarity is very improving, lake levels are already very high this year, and areas that have not been flooded over for several years will be, providing even more habitat. When it comes to water, more is good.

Access accurate Lake Almanor data at http://www.project2105.org/lake_levels.htm.  Doug Neal (530) 258-6732 http://www.almanorfishingadventures.com