Roads around the lake are dry and clear. Fishing pressure has been light, however several boats were out this week enjoying this nice weather. Both public ramps are open. Canyon Dam still has no boarding dock. 99% of Lake Almanor is ice free.

Bank fishing is good at Geritol Cove. Trolling tactics require attractors like dodgers and flashers. Also slow trolling naked threaded nightcrawlers, down rigged at 8 feet. When the sun is the highest, after 1:00 pm, smelt are on top looking for plankton. Ripping white or chartreuse trolling flies along the rocky shoreline have been working at Big Springs, A-Frame to Rec. 1, inside the moorings, and the east shore from Lake Cove to Canyon Dam.

Areas like Bailey Springs, Prattville, Almanor West have been locked up with ice, are now open. Look for Browns to be along the shoreline moving in and out of the shallows. Ripping trolling flies, Rapalas, or any smelt patterns can be effective. Doug Neal: (530) 258-6732 http://www.almanorfishingadventures.com