Fishing around Plumas County
By Mari Erin Roth
Special to Plumas News
Bucks Lake
Fishing is good up at Bucks. Fish plants at Bucks during the dam work affecting Lower Bucks have increased. “They planted 40,000 pounds of fish,” said Rebecca Guereque at Bucks Lake Lodge. “That’s what they said, and people are pulling monsters out of the lake every day!”
During the dam work no human access to Lower Bucks is permitted. Maybe that will net an increase in eagle and other predatory bird populations in the coming seasons due to the abundance of easy fishing.
Frenchman Lake
Reports are mixed. In some cases the fishing has been very challenging. “I hear people are having better luck at Davis,” said one employee at Goodwin’s General Store. On the other hand, Matthew Goodwin said, “We are doing really good, people are catchin’ pretty easy at the dam and at the first cove left of the dam there are monsters in there!”
Matthew said a woman fishing for the first time came in with a 3.5 pound beauty she caught with salmon eggs. “We are selling a lot of Rainbow power bait,” said Matthew. “It’s doing really well at the dam and the east shore by big cove.” Gary Blanchard was in the store at the time of the report and that’s a good sign the fish are there, too.
Lake Almanor
Thanks to Almanor Fishing Association and John Crotty of Quail Lodge Lake Almanor for details June 7 on local fishing.
In the past two days our temps have dropped by 30 degrees, daytime highs reached into the mid 80s earlier this week, today we are looking at a high of 55. This morning as I write this report my gauge shows 32 degrees. Water temp on Thursday reached into the low 70’s, Saturday the high was 66.
We also experienced a few thunderstorms with precipitation and high winds, which kept boats off the water.
Water level is leveling off, around the 4486’ mark, last year at this time lake level was approximately 6’ higher. “We are expecting our weather to settle over the next week,” said Crotty.
There has been little change to fishing conditions over the past week with the majority of trout fishermen targeting fish in the north/west section of the lake (Prattville to the tip of the Peninsula north). One mph with crawlers, 2 mph with Arctic Fox trolling flies (hot orange has been the preferred color) or hardware at 2.5 mph and faster have all produced fish. Fish are scattered throughout the water column adjust depths and speeds based upon presentation and weather conditions.
The bass bite has gotten “tough” as bass are spreading out through the lake and moving into deeper water. “Target sallies off rocky points moving deeper as the sun gets brighter,” said Crotty. “Bank fishing has been tough as is typical for this time of year.”
The recent cold front has slowed the increase in water temps and will also impact the onset of the Hex Hatch. “I have been checking Canyon Dam coves most evenings and did see a few bugs hatching on the warmer evenings. I have not seen any bugs the past few days,” said Crotty. Hexes were beginning to show in larger numbers at Butt Lake which typically means Almanor will see similar results in a week to 10 days. Crotty says he will continue to monitor and update as changes occur.
No official word has been received on the opening of campgrounds and Canyon Dam remains the only public boat ramp open.
If you fish Almanor or read Almanor fishing reports you most likely know the name Doug Neal or Almanor Fishing Adventures. Or you may have heard people reaching out to the “Almanor King” on the radio. Sadly for the Lake Almanor fishery and the Almanor Fishing Association Doug Neal is retiring and moving out of the area. Doug has sold his boat to fellow fishing guide Mike Papas; Doug has mentored Mike much like Doug DeAngelo mentored Doug Neal. Doug and his wife Dawn will be missed and Doug’s legendary work ethic and commitment to AFA and the Lake Almanor fishery will not soon be forgotten.
A quick reminder, the AFA annual Veteran’s Fishing Day event has been cancelled for the 2020 year, hopefully to return in 2021.
Lake Davis
“Fishing is good for both trout and bass,” according to the J&J Grizzly Store fishing report. The ramps are all open but Honker Cove dock is the only one in the water as of May 28.
Gary Blanchard reported that clients didn’t have any trouble catching limits but that the condition of the fish being pulled out of the lake was not good due to parasite damage.
The Father’s Day Weekend Fishing Derby (originally scheduled for June 20) has been moved to Saturday, Sept. 5, during Labor Day weekend. “We sincerely hope you will be able to join us for a fun-filled day with family and friends and raising money for our local Volunteer Fire Department,” said Jeanne. “As a side note, Saturday, Sept. 5, is a free fishing day in California!”
We would love to see pictures of your fishing adventures, adhering to safe social distancing and other precautionary measures of course. Send pictures of your spring fishing expeditions for publication in the Feather Publishing Sports Section to [email protected].
