2023 Lake Almanor Hex Hatch Report

[Lance Gray]

Folks,

I will try to update you all on what is going on up here at Lake Almanor throughout the Hex Hatch season.

The last week we have had major thunderstorms in the afternoons and evenings. So bad that dock cleats on one of the marinas pulled out of the 4x4 studs they were mounted in.

That being said during the morning we have been fishing deep with indicators with Gray's Balance Hex and brown/golden balanced leeches and catching fish until we get chased off the water by thunder, lightning, wind and down pours.

This week should be improving with the weather forecast getting rid of the afternoon thunderstorms tomorrow.

I will try to update this post every morning.

Thanks

[Woodman]

Thanks Lance. Appreciate the reports. I'm planning on heading up on the 22nd for a few days.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Lance, how many species of fish have you caught on the Hex hatch over the years?

[Lance Gray]

Lance, how many species of fish have you caught on the Hex hatch over the years?

Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Salmon
Smallmouth
Sacramento Perch
Squawfish
Carp
Catfish

Basically, everything that eats in the lake.

I have also hooked.
Grebes
Bats

Gerbes Fight great.

About or 5 or6 years ago - a client hook a honker - that was a fight.

[Lance Gray]

Good morning,

I didn't fish last night. I had a Healing Waters group staying at Lassen Meadows. Will be back to Lassen Meadows today as well. This Healing Waters group is from Mount Diablo Fly Fishers.

Talking to folks this morning - the thunderstorms put a damper on the fishing last night. Guys down at Canyondam did okay - while the folks up by Prattville got ran off the water by wind.

Starting today we will have calmer weather - no thunderstorms. That will increase the fish activity.

The top flies last night - Lance's Swimming Black AP and the Gray's Balance Hex.

[Terry Thomas]

Those grebe bills can draw blood…speaking for a friend

[ryeflyguy]

Hi Lance,

How deep have you been fishing at LMR?

[Lance Gray]

Those grebe bills can draw blood…speaking for a friend

I think at Eagle Lake they're meaner!!

[Lance Gray]

Hi Lance,

How deep have you been fishing at LMR?

25 to 30 feet deep. Sorry my mailbox was full - I emptied it.

[Lance Gray]

Sorry folks I haven't posted about last night.

Went down to fish the lake and we had 2.5-to-3-foot swells coming out of the East. No bueno.

Did see a half a dozen or so bugs out on the water.

Will be out there tonight. I will give you the report tomorrow AM.

[Lance Gray]

Good Morning Folks

Not a lot to report from last night. We got blown off the water. A big Northeast wind came up and within 30 minutes we had 3-foot swells coming to the West Shore.

The wind forecast is today is the same wind but a little weaker. I hope!!

[Lance Gray]

June 16, 2023

Last night was wonderful when it came to the weather. The pond was still and then a light breeze started to blow.

I landed 5 fish all rainbows on the Balance Hex deep 25 to 30 feet underneath an indicator. Saw 0 bugs where I was at hatch.

Reports say that I did pretty good next to others. Butt Lake had bugs hatching.

I will give you my next report tomorrow morning.

[Lance Gray]

June 17, 2023

Last night was the night. My group did well. We had fish and we had bugs!!

All fish came on the Balance hex underneath an indicator. We got browns, rainbows and a big ass bass!!

We also had some top water action, the guys were casting to working fish with no takes.

If you are trying to plan to get up here - I would wait until the middle of this coming week. We are going to have some cooler weather today, tomorrow and Tuesday.

All in all if haven't made the trip yet - you really haven't missed anything. It will be great in the next week.

Happy Father's Day to all - enjoy the day and Go Giants!!!

[John H]

Lance - thanks for all the reports. I have a question if you don’t mind. How big do the smallmouth get there? I saw a kayak gear fishing tournament at Almanor on YouTube. It was maybe 75 boats and two days of fishing and the big fish for the tournament was 19.25”. Is that about top end there for smallmouth? It was a hefty fish. I caught one at Berryessa about that long but it was not a thick fish so maybe 3.5 pounds. I really like smallmouth and getting them on the hex would be something. Thanks.

[Lance Gray]

Lance - thanks for all the reports. I have a question if you don’t mind. How big do the smallmouth get there? I saw a kayak gear fishing tournament at Almanor on YouTube. It was maybe 75 boats and two days of fishing and the big fish for the tournament was 19.25”. Is that about top end there for smallmouth? It was a hefty fish. I caught one at Berryessa about that long but it was not a thick fish so maybe 3.5 pounds. I really like smallmouth and getting them on the hex would be something. Thanks.


Yes we catch big, small mouth during the hex time. Biggest one so far this year is about five pounds. Got a picture of it. If you want to see it - PM me your phone number and I will text it to you!

[Lance Gray]

Sorry for the delay been super busy up here.

Monday night we had a storm come over Almanor. No Fishing.

Tuesday night we had 15 to 20 MPH winds out of the North and East. White caps on the Westshore with 2 to 3 foot swells and white caps.

Wednesday night was still. We had 5 grabs on the balance hex underneath the indicator. No dry fly action to speak of.

We need warm weather and high pressure. The barometer is going crazy up here!!

Will report tomorrow!!

[Lance Gray]

06/23/2023

Been slow and windy at the lake.

Fish are being caught - deep line indicatoring has been the best method. The Swimming Black AP has been gaining fish every night.

The hatch still isn't in full force. You still have time to get to Almanor and fish!!