Lake Conditions, 5/4/2012 Water Temperature: Surface temps averaging around @ 53.5 degrees
Water Clarity: Clarity continues to improve to 12 ft.
Elevation: 4490.88 Ft. Elevation
Acre Feet: 1,031,299 acre feet storage
Water Flow: The north fork of the Feather is pouring in water, high and fast. The diversion Dam is rerouting some of that addition flow around Chester. Bailey Creek is flowing strong, along with several season creeks and streams around both basins.
Capacity: For the second year in a row, Lake Almanor is full. It took very little run off to "Top Off" the lake...And the main runoff has just started.
Fishing Conditions: The difference between last year and this year is, Last year we got record snowfall. Cold runoff poured into the basin from every river,creek, stream, and ditch. So much cold water, it took deep into summer before surface temps began to rise, the hex hatch was a dud. This year. PG&E water managers cut back on the amount of water released, allowing Lake Almanor to retain higher winter levels of stabilized water, temperature wise. Also this winter Lake Almanor did not ice over thick, we had some thin ice that melted away daily during the entire winter, which was much lighter and warmer than 2010. That being said, Right now, conditions are just perfect.

Lake Almanor Fishing Report 5/4/2012:
Doesn't take long to get hooked up when conditions are like they are now. Many areas are very good. It's a toss up on where you might want to fish.

Here's some good bets. Trout and Salmon are still active in the Almanor West area..yea we caught a couple of 3 lb. Kings, between the Browns and Rainbows that were running from 2 to 3.2 lbs..

Salmon are active near Canyon Dam and at the Snag, hitting Anchovy tails,W/Pro-Cure Super Herring Gel suspended off the bottom, and a few are always caught trolling. Fishing pressure is up on the weekends and most boats are trolling dodgers and flashers in the deeper areas, while lead core guys are getting hits in the top 15 ft. of water.

Rec. 1 to the A-frame has been Brown Town. Inside the moorings smelt are pressed along the shore line and Browns are holding them in there. Ripping smelt patters, like Rapalas, Pin Minnows, or Trophy Sticks have, at times, caught the bigger fish.

Rec. 2, Fish are rolling inside, and outside the log boom, got 2 hits from the dock before even launching the boat. USFS ramp, launch there and just start trolling west. Rigged Needlefish or shiners down 6 ft. early, dropping down 10 ft. after 9:00 am producing mostly Browns and Rainbows, but the Salmon are still in the hunt too.

Also threaded naked crawlers along the moorings..real slow.

Hamilton Branch flows into the lake have fish stacked out front about 500 yds. and below 30 ft.,Rainbows and Browns, use attractors to help them find breakfast. Strike Master Dodgers from Seps work best.

Lake Cove to the Dorado, this area is always a worth a pass...when they are "in there", it's the best..And they are in there. Insect hatch are much more advanced on the east shore drawing in feeders..watch for the swallows working the surface, fish with and around them.

Hamilton Branch is running fast and clear, Salmon hitting white white jigs near the power house, and the east shore near the big Bennington estate..(The big huge house along the east shores south end.) Trollers check you lines for shaker Salmon. These little plants are aggressive but to small to pop releases.