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there is a hatch of Hexagynia (a giant mayfly) which can put the larger fish into a feeding frenzy just before dark. A successful fish cage program is operated by the Almanor Fishing Association and California Department of Fish and Game. Fingerling rainbow trout are raised at Hamilton Branch and 50,000, each weighing about a pound, are released in May. A fish hatchery program that supplies fingerling trout to Lake Almanor waterways is also operated at Chester High School. Smallmouth bass fishing is another feature attraction at Almanor. The focus always seems to be on popular game fish; however, Lake Almanor also has a substantial carp population and the annual spring carp shoot is a famous event. A public boat launch that is open year-round is located at the southwestern end of the lake just north of the dam. Butt Valley Reservoir is noted for huge rainbows and browns of trophy trout status. Butt Valley is at its best with flies, jigs and small lures in the inlet when the powerhouse is running. Round Valley Lake near Greenville is a small lake with big bass. Ideal for serious bass anglers, this is a great place for children to fish from shore for bluegills, too. An annual bluegill derby is held here in June. Bucks Lake is a good all-around lake that is especially noted for trophy size (over 16 pound) Mackinaw trout, although the current lake record is over 30 pounds! Fall fly-fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout is often spectacular in middle to late afternoon — look for hatches of a small, sooty-black caddis fly. Little Grass Valley Reservoir is good for rainbow and brown trout, and Antelope Lake is popular for trout, catfish, and bass fishing. Lake Davis and Frenchman Lake are excellent trophy rainbow waters. Fly-fishing from the west shorelines, either wading or using float tubes, is good both spring and fall. Damselfly nymphs or dry flies are usually a good bet. Trolling woollybuggers often works well. Both of these lakes are popular for ice fishing during the wintertime.
STREAMS AND FLY-FISHING Whether you’re a fly fisherman or prefer to use lures and bait, you’ll find plenty of good action and surprisingly large trout in some very small creeks.
Fishing Events May 19 - Junior Fishing Day . . . . . . . . . . .Graeagle Mill Pond June 2 - Free Kids Fishing Derby . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Taylorsville June 23 - Lake Davis Fishing Derby . . . . . . . . . . . .Lake Davis July 7 - Lake Almanor Trout & Salmon Derby .Lake Almanor July 7 - Free Fishing Day . . . . . . . . . . . .All of Plumas County Aug. 4 - Fish For A Wish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lake Almanor Sept. 8 - Free Fishing Day . . . . . . . . . . .All of Plumas County Feb. 2013 - Lake Davis Ice Fishing Tournament . .Lake Davis
The most common natural aquatic insects of the Feather River are several species of mayflies, caddis flies and stone flies. There are others, of course, as well as terrestrials (ants, grasshoppers). Exploring a stream, you may see trout rising to an active hatch of insects. Try to capture or at least get a good look at an insect for size and color. Mayfly and mosquito patterns, humpies and Adams and caddis patterns in appropriate sizes and body colors can be good choices. If nothing is hatching, nymphs worked along the bottom are probably your best bet. Small nymphs such as the birds nest or pheasant tail patterns work well. Larger Montana, stone fly and hellgrammite nymphs are often effective early in the year. Two-nymph rigs, one large and one small, are useful for searching. It works best if you move the nymphs slowly, deep and on a fairly short line with a strike indicator near where your leader attaches to your floating fly-line.
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Fishing Guide Services North County Almanor Fishing Adventures ........................(530) 258-6732 Almanor Fishing Association (info only)........(530) 258-3790 Big Meadows Fishing Guide Service .............(530) 596-3072 Dick’s Guide Service .....................................(530) 256-3317 Lake Almanor Fly Fishing Company..............(530) 258-3944 Mac's Lake Almanor Guide Service ..............(530) 596-3202 Quail Lodge ...............................................(530) 284-0861 Rick’s Guide Service .....................................(530) 284-6005 Roger’s Guide Service ...............................(530) 284-6429 The Sports Nut (info only) ............................(530) 258-3327
Central County Big Daddy’s Guide Service........................(530) 283-4103 Fish First Fly-Fishing Guide Service................(530) 343-8300 Fish Tales Guide Service................................(530) 559-7175 Reese’s Fish Hunt ......................................(530) 927-8925 Sportsmen’s Den (info only) .........................(530) 283-2733 Tightlines Guide Service...............................(530) 263-0990
East County Baiocchi's Troutfitters Guide Service .............(530) 836-1115 Brady’s Bare Bones Guide Service .................(530) 272-7137 Dillard Guided Fishing..................................(530) 832-6394 Dollard’s Sierra Market (info only) ................(530) 832-5251 Family Outings Guide Services......................(530) 249-4979 Forward Bound Fly Fishing/Hiking ................(530) 836-0206 J&J’s Grizzly Store (info only) ..................(530) 832-0270 Jay Clark Flyfishing.......................................(530) 414-1655 Mountain Hardware (info only) ..............(530) 836-2589 Reno Fly Shop .............................................(775) 224-5918 Sierra Anglers Guide Service ........................(530) 414-1374 Stillwater Flyfishing Guide Services...............(888) 867-2127 Wiggin’s Trading Post (info only) ............(530) 993-4683 Wildlife Charters..........................................(530) 249-1580
2012 - 2013 PLUMAS COUNTY VISITORS GUIDE
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