Lake Almanor
A large PG&E reservoir on the North Fork Feather River near Chester, at about 4,500 feet below Lassen Peak. It is best known for big rainbow and brown trout, holdover salmon and a good smallmouth bass fishery.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Rainbow Trout
Troll crawlers or dodger-and-lure combos in the top 15 to 35 ft. Hamilton Branch and the Peninsula are popular spots.
Brown Trout
Shoreline trolling from Rec 1 toward the A-frame and around the moorings. Smelt-style minnow baits work early.
Smallmouth Bass
Rocky banks on the east shore. Fish shorelines with small swimbaits and plastics in late spring.
Chinook Salmon
Troll near Canyon Dam and the Hamilton Branch powerhouse in spring and fall.
Boat launches
5 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Canyon Dam Boat RampPublicPublic ramp off Hwy 89 at Canyon Dam. Boarding float, restrooms, about 40 trailer spacesDirections ↗
- Almanor Boat LaunchFreeLassen National Forest ramp on the west shore by Almanor Campground. No chargeDirections ↗
- Plumas Pines ResortMarinaWest-shore resort at Canyon Dam with launch and tackleDirections ↗
- Lake Cove Resort & MarinaMarinaEast-shore resort on Hwy 147 with launch, rentals and tackleDirections ↗
- Wilson's Camp PrattvilleFeeWest-shore camp with launch, store and fish cleaning. Launch is for guestsDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Almanor are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: California Department of Fish and Wildlife ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Ayoob's Intermountain HardwareNearby201 Main Street, Chester(530) 258-2611Directions ↗
- Plumas Pines ResortNearby3000 Almanor Dr West, Canyon Dam(530) 259-4343Directions ↗
Local tips
- Ramp docks can sit high and dry when the lake is drawn down, so check ramp status before you go.
- Cold spring water and summer insect hatches move trout shallow; watch for swallows working the surface.
- The state has a mercury-based safe-eating advisory for fish from Lake Almanor; check it before keeping fish.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
More California lakes
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.